Lyndon  Oak  of  Garland 


HISTORY 


OF 


GARLAND 


MAINE 


BY  LYNDON  OAK 


DOVER.  MAINE 

THE  OBSERVER  PUBLISHING  CO. 

1912 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


G-302 


Page 

Beginnings  in  the  Valley  of  the  Kenduskeag, 

5 

Grant  of  the  Township,  now  Garland,  to 

Wil- 

Hams  College, 

5 

Original  Proprietors, 

9 

The  Waldo  Patent, 

18 

Original  Designation, 

16 

Boundaries  and  Natural  Features, 

15 

A  Notable  Natural  Feature, 

17 

Water  Courses, 

18 

Main  Stream, 

19 

Sources  of  Information  Relating   to    the 

Local 

History  of  Garland, 

19 

Stories  of  the  Pioneers, 

%\ 

Disappearing, 

28 

Beginnings, 

24 

The  First  Opening, 

24 

Conflicting  Claims, 

26 

Events  of  1802  in  the  Township, 

27 

The  First  Family, 

80 

The  First  Fruit  Nursery, 

%% 

Early  Buildings, 

S5 

The  First  Saw-mill, 

S6 

Story  of  the  Crank, 

87 

Raising  of  the  First  Saw-mill, 

46 

The  First  Winter  in  the  Township, 

49 

Township  No.  3  in  1803, 

52 

iviJ281503 


IV  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 


Pagre 

An  Early  Name, 

53 

Old  Names, 

53 

In  Quest  of  Food, 

54 

Lincoln  town  in  1804, 

57 

In  Peril  of  Shipwreck, 

59 

From  Frankfort  to  the  Township, 

59 

Early  Births  in  the  Township, 

62 

Lincolntown  in  1805, 

63 

A  Striking  Contrast, 

63 

Burned  Out, 

66 

A  Spacious  Sleeping  Apartment, 

68 

The  Surprise, 

69 

A  Discovery, 

71 

Another  Fire  in  1805, 

72 

First  Beginning    in    the  Southwest   Part  of  the 

Township, 

74 

Coming  of  Mechanics, 

75 

A  Large  Crop  of  Corn, 

77 

The  First  Strawberry  Festival, 

78 

^rhe  First  School, 

79 

A  Disappointment, 

80 

The  Township  in  1806, 

82 

The  Fii-st  Tanner, 

83 

The  First  Physician, 

85 

The  First  Visit  of  a  Minister, 

86 

First  Winter  School, 

87 

Earlv  Marriages, 

95 

The  Township  in  1807, 

96 

The  First  Blacksmith, 

97 

The  Township  in  1808, 

99 

The  Township  in  1809, 

100 

A  Notable  Barn, 

102 

A  More  Notable  Bam, 

103 

A  Remarkable  Journey  in  1809, 

104 

TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 


Pagre 

The  First  Death  in  the  Township, 

105 

The  Township  in  1810, 

105 

A  Sorrowful  Event, 

107 

The  First  Grist  Mill, 

108 

Death  of  the  First  Physician, 

109 

Questionings, 

110 

Was  it  a  Misfortune? 

112 

Petition  for  an  Act  of  Incorporation, 

114 

What's  in  a  Name? 

115 

A  Copy  of  the  Petition  for  Incorporation, 

118 

Act  of  Incorporation, 

121 

Garland  in  1811, 

123 

The  First  Town  Meeting, 

126 

The  Second  Town  Meeting, 

129 

The  Third  Town  Meeting  of  1811, 

133 

The  Fourth  Town  Meeting  of  1811, 

134 

Garland  in  1812, 

135 

The  First  Vote  for  Governor, 

136 

The  First  Voting  List  on  Record, 

137 

First  Vote  for  Member  of  Congress  for  the  Ken- 

nebec District, 

139 

The  First  Vote  for  a  Presidential  Elector, 

139 

Consti-uction  of  Early  Houses, 

140 

How  Houses  Were  Warmed, 

141 

An  All-Day  Fire, 

142 

How  the  Houses  Were  Lighted, 

143 

Furniture  of  the  Times, 

143 

The  Clothing  of  the  Inhabitants, 

144 

Their  Food, 

145 

A  Luxury, 

146 

Social  Life, 

147 

The  Conquest  of  the  Forest, 

148 

Planting  Corn, 

149 

Garland  in  1813, 

151 

VI  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 


Pa«e 

West  Garland, 

152 

Garland  in  1814, 

153 

The  War  of  1812, 

154 

Garland's  First  Military  Company, 

156 

A  Midnight  Summons, 

157 

Enlistments, 

161 

Garland  in  1815, 

162 

Garland  in  1816  (Petition  for  a  New  State), 

163 

Change  of  Place, 

165 

Annual  Town  Meeting  of  1816, 

166 

A  New  County, 

167 

The  Year  Without  a  Summer, 

168 

Garland  in  the  Cold  Year, 

171 

Incidents  From  the  Diary  of  Stephen  A.  Berry, 

173 

Garland  in  1817, 

175 

A  Cheering  Change, 

176 

Friends  in  Need, 

176 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  1817, 

177 

The  First  County  Road, 

178 

Ballot  for  Governor  in  1817, 

179 

Garland  in  1818, 

180 

The  Town's  Treasury  Boxes, 

181 

Vote  for  Governor  in  1818, 

181 

The  Ohio  Fever, 

182 

A  Favorable  Season, 

182 

A  Revival  of  the  Military  Spirit, 

182 

The  First  Post-office, 

184 

Garland  in  1819, 

186 

Garland  From  1810  to  1820, 

189 

Families  Who  Moved  Away  During  the  Second 

Decade, 

190 

Garland  in  1820, 

193 

A  New  Epoch, 

195 

Garland  in  1821, 

197 

TABLE    OF    CONTENTS  Vll 

Page 

Action  of  the  Town  Relating  to  Lots  of  Land 

Reserved  for  Public  Purposes,  198 
Number    of  Families  in  What    is  Now  Garland 

Village  in  1821,  199 
Garland  in  1822,  201 
Newcomers  in  1822,  202 
Search  for  a  Missing  Child  in  a  Neighboring 
Town  in  Which  Citizens  of  Garland  Partici- 
pated, 204 
Masonic  Lodge,  205 
Garland  in  1823,  205 
First  Store  in  Garland  Village,  207 
Garland  in  1824,  209 
A  Mustering  of  the  Militia,  210 
A  Political  Campaign  Projected,  211 
Garland  in  1825,  211 
Fall  Elections,  212 
Destructive  Fires  in  1825,  212 
Garland  in  1826,  215 
Garland  in  1827,  218 
Congressional  Convention,  219 
Fall  Election,  219 
An  Early  Spring,  220 
Garland  in  1828,  221 
The  First  Cemetery,  223 
Garland  in  1829,  223 
The  Genesis  of  the  Temperance  Reform,  224 
Review  of  Town's  Growth  From  1820  to  1830,  225 
Garland  in  1830,  226 
Increasing  Prosperity,  228 
Garland  in  1831,  229 
An  Abundant  Crop  of  Com,  229 
Garland  in  1832, 
Garland  in  1833, 


Vlll  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 

Page 

Garland  in  1834,  233 

A  Business  Center,  234 

The  Hop  Industry,  235 

Garland  in  1835,  236 

An  Irate  Citizen,  237 

Division  of  the  Ministerial  Fund,  238 
The  Aid  of  the  Town  to    Some    of  Its   Poorer 

Citizens,  240 

Tragic  Death  of  a  Prominent  Citizen,  241 

An  Important  Road  Contemplated,  242 

The  First  Meeting  House  in  Garland,  243 

Garland  in  1836,  246 

Bears,  247 

Fall  Elections  of  1836,  247 

Garland  in  1837,  248 

Fall  Elections,  248 

Hard  Times,  250 

Surplus  Revenue,  251 

An  Elephant,  251 

Garland  in  1838,  254 

Garland's  Artillery  Company,  255 

A  Foreign  Venture,  256 

The  Advent  of  the  Martin  Family,  257 

'  'All  is  Well  That  Ends  Well, ' '  259 

Garland  in  1839,  260 

Garland  in  the  Aroostook  War,  261 

Growth  From  1830  to  1840,  270 

Garland  in  1840,  271 

Appropriations  in  1840,  272 

Fall  Elections,  1840,  272 

Garland  in  1841,  273 

The  Fall  Election  of  1841,  274 

The  Avenue  Road,  275 

Garland  in  1842,  275 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS  IX 


Page 

FaU  Elections  in  1842, 

276 

A  Notable  Anti-Slavery  Meeting, 

277 

Garland  in  1843, 

277 

The  Rebuilding  of  the  Long  Bridge, 

280 

A  Remarkable  Religious  Fanaticism, 

281 

Garland  in  1844, 

283 

Autumnal  Election, 

284 

Garland  in  1845, 

286 

Annual  State  Election, 

285 

Garland  in  1846, 

287 

State  Election  of  1846, 

287 

Garland  in  1847, 

288 

Town  House, 

289 

State  Election  of  1847, 

290 

Action  of  the  Town  on  Proposed  Amendments 

of  the  State  Constitution, 

291 

Garland  in  1848, 

291 

State  Election  in  1848, 

292 

The  First  High  School  in  Garland, 

293 

A  Tornado, 

294 

Garland  in  1849, 

296 

Garland  in  1850, 

297 

Autumnal  Elections  of  1850, 

297 

Garland  in  the  Contest  for  United  States  Sena- 

tor, 

298 

Garland  in  1851, 

299 

Garland  in  1852, 

300 

Autumnal  Elections  of  1852, 

301 

Garland  in  1853, 

301 

Autumnal  Elections  in  1853, 

302 

Garland  in  1854, 

302 

The  Autumnal  Elections, 

303 

Garland  in  1855, 

304 

Autumnal  Elections, 

306 

TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 


Garland  in  1856, 

305 

Clouds  in  the  Political  Horizon, 

306 

Autumnal  Elections  of  1856, 

306 

Presidential  Electors, 

307 

Garland  in  1857, 

308 

Appropriations  of  1857, 

308 

Autumnal  Elections  of  1857, 

308 

Garland  in  1858, 

309 

Appropriations  of  1858, 

309 

Autumnal  Elections  of  1858, 

310 

Garland  in  1859, 

310 

Autumnal  Elections  of  1859, 

311 

Garland  in  1860, 

311 

Autumnal  Election, 

312 

Ballot  for  Presidential  Electors  in  1860, 

312 

Garland  in  1861, 

313 

Autumnal  Election  of  1861, 

314 

Garland  in  1862, 

314 

Autumnal  Election  of  1862, 

315 

Garland  in  1863, 

315 

Autumnal  Elections  in  1863, 

316 

Garland  in  1864, 

316 

Autumnal  Election  of  1864, 

317 

Garland  in  1865, 

317 

Autumnal  Election  of  1865, 

318 

Garland  in  1866, 

318 

Autumnal  Election  of  1866, 

319 

Garland  in  1867, 

319 

Autumnal  Election  of  1867, 

320 

Garland  in  1868, 

320 

Autumnal  Election  of  1868, 

321 

Garland  in  1869, 

322 

Autumnal  Election, 

322 

Special  Meeting, 

323 

TABLE    OF    CONTENTS  XI 

Pa«e 

Garland  in  the  Temperance  Reform,  323 

The  Washingtonian  Movement, 

An  Event  Worthy  of  Record, 

Garland's  Action  on  a  Proposed  Amendment  of 

the  State  Constitution,  329 

Before  Roads  Were  Made  in  the  Township,  330 

Early  Lines  of  Approach  to  the  Township,  330 

Early  Roads, 

History    of  the   Principal  Existing  Roads, 
Second  Road,  332 

Road  to  Dexter,  333 

The  Present  Trend  of  Merchandise,  337 

A  Sketch  of  the  History  of  the  Congregational 

Church  of  Garland,  338 

Pastorate  of  the  Rev.  S.  S.  Drake,  349 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  Free  Baptist  Church,  350 

Garland  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  359 

Early  Demonstrations,  359 

Calls  for  Men  in  1861,  360 

Action  of  the  Town  Relating  to  Families  of  the 
Men  Who  Had  Enhsted  in  the  Ranks  of  the 
.  Army  in  1861,  360 

Names  of  Residents  of  Garland  Who  Volunteered 

to  Fight  Under  the  Old  Flag,  363 

A  List  of  Drafted  Men  Who  Furnished  Substi- 
tutes, 365 
A  List  of  Non-resident  Volunteers  Assigned  to 

Garland,  365 

Reenlistments,  366 


Xll  ^  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 


Page 


Names   and   Brief    History    of   the   Men    Who 

Enlisted  in  1861, 
Names   and    Brief    Histoiy    of    the   Men    Who 

Enlisted  in  1862, 
Names    and    Brief    History    of    the    Men    Who 

Enlisted  in  1863, 
Names    and    Brief    History    of    the    Men    Who 

Enlisted  in  1864, 
Names    and    Brief    History    of    the    Men    Who 

Enlisted  in  1865, 
A  Brief  Statement  of  Particulars  of  the  Deaths 

of  the  Men  Who  Were  Killed  or  Died  in 

the  Service  of  Their  Country,  375 

Cost  of  the  War  to  the  Town  of  Garland,  381 

Bounties,  381 

Woman  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
An  Incident  Connected  With  Filling  One  of  the 

Quotas  Assigned  to  the  Town  of  Garland, 
A  Tribute,  385 


PREFACE 

It  is  hardly  possible  for  a  man  to  leave  a  better  legacy  to  his 
town  than  a  good  history  of  it.  This  is  a  matter  that  has  been  too 
often  neglected,  especially  in  many  Maine  towns  which  could  have 
furnished  ample  material,  but  Garland  has  been  fortunate  in 
this  respect,  fortunate  in  having  the  material  and  doubly  fortu- 
nate in  having  a  citizen  who  was  both  able  and  willing  to  make 
good  use  of  it. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  live  in  Garland  and  to  call  the  Hon. 
Lyndon  Oak  my  friend.  When  I  visited  him  during  the  latter 
years  of  his  life,  I  found  him  devoting  his  spare  time  to  writing  a 
history  of  his  town  and  was  greatly  interested  in  the  extracts  which 
it  g^ve  him  pleasure  to  read  to  me. 

The  manuscript  came  into  the  hands  of  John  M.  Oak  of 
Bangor  after  the  death  of  his  father  and  when  he  decided  to  have 
the  history  published,  it  seemed  very  fitting  that  the  introduction 
should  be  written,  and  the  work  done  in  the  office  of  a  Garland  boy 
in  whom  his  father  had  been  interested,  and  so  it  came  about  that 
the  book  was  printed  in  my  office  and  I  have  written  the  introduc- 
tion. 

In  going  through  the  manuscript,  a  great  deal  of  matter  relat- 
ing to  families  and  individuals  was  found  to  be  incomplete,  evidently 
being  notes  the  author  had  collected  but  did  not  live  to  extend. 
For  this  reason  it  has  not  been  possible  to  give  this  matter  a  place 
in  the  history,  although  it  would  have  added  much  to  its  interest 
had  it  been  completed. 

Much  credit  is  due  Miss  Ellen  M.  Haskell  of  Garland  for  her 
efficient  work  in  editing  and  preparing  the  manuscript  for  the 
printer,  a  work  for  which  she  was  qualified  by  her  familiarity  with 
the  history  of  the  town. 

In  this  connection  it  seems  appropriate  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of 
the  author  of  this  history  and  the  following  was  taken  from  an 
article  written  by  Henry  L.  Oak  for  the  American  Series  of 
Popular  Biographies.  At  the  end  of  the  volume  will  also  be  found 
an  article  written  by  Dr.  M.  C.  Fernald  of  Orono. 

LISTON  P.  EVANS. 


Brief  Sketch  of  Author 
By  Henry  L.   Oak 

Hon.  Lyndon  Oak,  teacher  and  merchant,  was  born  in  Bos- 
cawen,  N.  H.,  Sept.  22d,  1816,  died  in  Garland  Feb.  17th,  1902. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Gorham  Seminary, 
where  he  was  subsequently  a  teacher  for  twelve  years.  He  con- 
tinued his  professional  career  for  many  years,  and  as  an  educator 
met  with  praiseworthy  success. 

In  1848,  he  founded  the  Garland  High  School,  in  which  he 
taught  the  first  term,  and  was  so  interested  in  its  continuance  that 
he  personally  g^uaranteed  the  salaries  of  the  teachers  for  the  next 
thirteen  years.  For  a  long  time  be  served  most  efficiently  as  super- 
intendent of  schools  in  Garland,  doing  much  toward  advancing  the 
educational  status  of  the  town. 

He  was  very  prominent  in  the  establishment  and  early  manage- 
ment of  the  Maine  State  College,  now  the  University  of  Maine,  at 
Orono,  and  served  for  twenty-two  years  as  one  of  its  board  of 
trustees,  six  years  being  president  of  the  board.  On  reaching  the 
legal  limitation  of  age,  he  retired. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  at  different  times 
from  1843  until  1867,  serving  in  both  branches  of  that  body,  and 
had  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  member  ever  elected  to  the 
House  on  a  straight  anti-slavery,  or  Liberty  party  ticket.  When 
the  Liberty  party  was  merged  in  the  Free  Soil  party  he  became  one 
of  its  staunchest  supporters,  continuing  to  adhere  to  its  principles 
until  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  he  was 
afterwards  actively  identified.  In  1876,  as  a  protest  against  a  nomi- 
nation he  had  opposed  in  the  convention,  and  with  no  thought  of 
election  Mr.  Oak,  at  the  very  urgent  importunities  of  friends  and 
men  of  influence  and  standing  in  the  party,  allowed  his  name  to  be 
used  as  an  independent  candidate  for  Congress.  This  he  regarded, 
as  did  his  friends,  as  political  suicide;  yet  in  1880,  at  a  convention 
held  under  the  leadership  of  such  men  as  Blaine,  Boutelle,  Hale, 
Hamlin  and  Dingley,  he  was  urged  to  accept  the  regular  nomination 
of  his  party  for  Governor,  but  felt  obliged   to  decline,  owing  to 


4  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

personal  and  business  interests.  Mr.  Blaine  insisted  that  "there 
would  be  magic  in  the  historic  name  of  Lyndon  Oak  of  Garland." 

Mr.  Oak  subsequently  published  a  biographical  sketch  of  Gen. 
James  Irish  of  Gorham,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  at  work 
on  a  history  of  the  town  of  Garland. 

As  the  most  prominent  man  of  the  town  of  Garland  for  more 
than  half  a  century;  as  representing  the  best  and  a  fast  disappear- 
ing type  of  local  politicians,  and  by  reason  of  his  marked  ability 
and  many  admirable  traits  of  personal  character,  the  Hon.  Lyndon 
Oak,  more  than  any  other  of  his  branch  or  tribe,  is  one  who 
deserves  an  extended  biographical  sketch,  such  as  cannot  be  given 
here. 

The  Hon.  Lyndon  Oak  married  (Sept.  1st,  1846,)  Rebecca 
Chadbourne  Irish,  who  was  born  in  Gorham,  Maine,  Sept.  2lst, 
1817,  and  died  in  Garland,  Feb.  24th,  1902.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  General  James  Irish  of  Gorham,  and  was  a  descendant  in  the 
eighth  generation  from  Thomas  Rogers  who  came  over  in  the  May- 
flower in  1620.  Hon.  and  Mrs.  Lyndon  Oak  were  the  parents  of 
three  children,  James  H.,  born  in  Garland  Oct.  4,  1849,  John  M., 
born  in  Garland  June  16,  1851,  and  Grace  Elizabeth,  (now  Mrs.  J. 
N.  Parker,)  born  in  Garland  June  1st,  1858. 


History  of  Garland,  Maine 


Beginnings  in  the  Valley  of  the    Kenduskeag 

SOON  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  the 
fine    agricultural    region     embracing    the    present 
towns  of    Levant,    Kenduskeag,    Corinth,   Exeter, 
Dexter,     Garland    and    Charleston,    Maine,    began    to 
attract  attention. 

Settlements  were  begun  at  Levant,  then  embracing 
the  present  town  of  Kenduskeag,  in  1789 — at  Corinth 
in  1792 — at  Charleston  in  1795 — at  Dexter  and  Exeter 
in  1801  and  at  Garland  in  1802. 


Grant  of  the  Township,   Now  Garland,  to 
Williams  College 

In  1798,  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  granted 
two  townships  of  land  to  Williams  College,  located  at 
Williams  town,  Mass. 

The  present  towns  of  Garland  and  Lee,  both  situated 
in  the  present  county  of  Penobscot,  were  the  townships 
granted. 

The  terms  and  conditions  upon  which  the  grants 
were  made,  are  contained  in  the  following  resolve  (deed)  : 


6  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

"To  all  persons  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come, 
Greeting : 

* 'Whereas  the  Legislature  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  on  the  fourth  day  of  February,  1796, 
granted  a  township  of  land  to  the  Trustees  of  Williams 
College  by  a  resolve  in  the  following  words  viz:  'Re- 
solved that  there  be  and  hereby  is  granted  two  townships 
of  land  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  square,  each  to  be 
laid  out  and  assigned  from  any  of  the  unappropriated 
lands  belonging  to  this  Commonwealth  in  the  District  of 
Maine,  the  same  to  be  vested  in  the  Trustees  of  Williams 
College  and  their  successors  forever  for  the  use,  benefit 
and  purpose  of  supporting  the  said  College,  to  be  by 
them  holden  in  their  corporate  capacity  with  full  power 
and  authority  to  settle,  divide  and  manage  the  same 
townships  or  any  part  thereof,  or  to  sell,  convey  and 
dispose  of  the  same  in  such  way  and  manner  as  shall  best 
promote  the  welfare  of  said  College,  the  same  to  be  laid 
out  under  the  direction  of  the  Committee  for  the  sale  of 
Eastern  Lands  and  a  plan  or  plans  thereof  lodged  in  the 
Secretary's  Office.  Provided  the  Trustees  aforesaid  or 
their  assigns  shall  cause  to  be  settled  fifteen  families  in 
■each  of  said  townships  within  twelve  years  from  the  pass- 
ing this  resolve,  and  also  that  there  be  reserved  in  each 
township  three  lots  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
each  for  the  following  uses  viz:  one  lot  for  the  first  set- 
tled Minister,  one  lot  for  the  use  of  the  Ministry  and  one 
lot  for  the  use  of  schools  in  each  of  said  townships. ' 

"And  whereas  the  Legislature  aforesaid  did  on  the 
twenty-eighth  day  of  February,  1793,  by  their  resolve 
of  that  date,  authorize  and  empower  the  Committee  for 
the  sale  of  Eastern  Lands  to  execute  deeds  of  certain 
grants  of  land  in  the  words  following,  viz:  Whereas 
several  grants  of  townships  and  tracts  of  land  have  been 
and  may  be  made  by  this  Court  for  the  encouragement 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  7 

of  literature  in  the  various  parts  of  the  Commonwealth, 
Resolved,  That  all  the  lands  which  have  been  or  may  be 
granted  for  the  purposes  aforesaid  be  located  under  the 
direction  of  the  Committee  for  the  sale  of  Eastern  lands 
and  that  said  Committee  be  and  hereby  are  authorized 
and  empowered  to  execute  deeds  of  conveyance  and  con- 
firmation of  the  same  conformably  to  the  conditions  of 
such  grants. 

"Now  therefore  know  ye.  That  we  the  undersigned 
whose  seals  are  hereunto  affixed,  having  been  appointed 
the  Committee  for  the  sale  of  Eastern  Lands  in  con- 
formity to  the  foregoing  resolve,  do  by  these  presents 
convey  and  confirm  unto  the  Trustees  of  Williams  Col- 
lege and  their  successors  to  be  by  them  holden  in  their 
corporate  capacity  for  the  use  of  said  College,  a  town- 
ship of  land  lying  in  the  County  of  Hancock  &  con- 
taining twenty-three  thousand  and  forty  acres,  equal  to 
a  township  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  square,  the  said 
township  being  number  three  in  the  fifth  range  of  town- 
ships north  of  the  Waldo  Patent,  as  the  same  was  sur- 
veyed by  Ephraim  Ballard  and  Samuel  Weston  in  the 
year  1792,  Bounded  easterly  by  number  two  in  the  same 
range,  southerly  by  number  three  in  the  fourth  range, 
westerly  by  number  four  in  the  fifth  range  and  northerly 
by  number  three  in  the  sixth  range,  excepting  and 
reserving  however  three  lots  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  each  for  the  following  uses,  viz:  one  lot  for  the  first 
settled  Minister  his  heirs  or  assigns,  one  lot  for  the  use 
of  the  Ministry  and  one  lot  for  the  use  of  schools  in  said 
township. 

'  'To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  premises  with 
the  appurtenances  thereof  to  the  said  Ti*ustees  and  their 
successors  for  the  use  of  said  College  and  their  assigns 
forever,  on  condition  that  the  said  Trustees,  their  suc- 
cessors or  assigns  shall  grant  and  convey  to   each  set- 


8  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

tier  in  said  township  who  settled  therein  before  the  first 
day  of  January,  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-four,  or  in 
case  of  his  decease  without  assignment,  then  to  his  heirs, 
and  in  case  of  assignment  then  to  his  assigns,  one  hundred 
acres  of  land,  to  be  so  laid  out  as  will  best  include  the 
improvements  of  the  settler  and  be  least  injurious  to  the 
adjoining  lands,  so  as  that  the  settler  his  heirs  or  assigns 
may  hold  the  same  in  fee  simple,  provided  that  the  set- 
tler, his  heirs  or  assigns  shall  within  one  year  after  notice 
and  request  pay  to  the  Grantees  named  in  this  deed  their 
heirs  or  assigns  five  dollars  and  also  provided  that  the 
said  Trustees,  their  successors  or  assigns  shall  comply  with 
and  perform  the  several  conditions  mentioned  in  said 
resolve  according  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  thereof. 
And  the  said  Committee  covenant  with  the  said  Trustees 
that  the  said  Commonwealth  shall  warrant  and  defend 
the  above  granted  premises  to  them  the  said  Trustees  on 
the  said  conditions  and  saving  the  reservations  aforesaid, 
to  them,  their  successors  and  assigns  forever  against  the 
lawful  claims  and  demands  of  all  persons. 

"In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands 
and  seals  this  second  day  of  June  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
seventeen  hundred   and  ninety-eight. 
"Signed,  sealed  and  Samuel  Phillips  (L  S) 

delivered  in  presence  of  us.  Nath'l  Wells       (L  S) 

Edw.  Hayman  John  Read  (L  S)" 

Edw^    McLane. 

"Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 
"Suffolk,  ss.    June  4th.  1798.    Then  personally  appeared 
the  above  named  Samuel  Phillips,  Nath'l  Wells  and  John 
Read  and  acknowledged  the  foregoing  instrument  to  be 
their  free  act  and  deed. 
Before  me, 

Simon  Frye,  Justice  of  the  Peace 
throughout  the  Commonwealth." 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  9 

The  present  town  of  Garland  was  one  of  the  town- 
ships selected  under  the  provisions  of  this  resolve.  The 
exterior  lines  of  the  township  had  been  run  in  1792  by 
Ephraim  Ballard  and  Samuel  Weston,  names  familiar  to 
those  who  have  had  occasion  to  examine  the  records  of 
early  surveys  in  this  section  of  Maine.  The  township 
was  in  the  then  existing  county  of  Hancock,  a  large 
region  extending  northerly  to  limits  undefined  and 
embracing  the  temtory  of  future  counties,  among  which 
are  the  present  counties  of  Penobscot,  Piscataquis  and  a 
part  of  Aroostook.  It  was  designated  in  Ballard  and 
Weston's  survey  as  township  number  three  in  the  fifth 
range  of  townships  north  of  the  Waldo  Patent. 


Original  Proprietors 

Investments  in  lands  in  the  Province  of  Maine  at 
the  opening  of  the  present  century  seem  to  have  been 
regarded  with  considerable  favor  by  moneyed  men  of 
Massfwihusetts.  Scarcely  had  the  ink  become  dry  which 
was  used  to  give  effect  to  the  resolve  granting  to 
Williams  CoUege  the  township  now  known  as  Garland, 
when  its  treasurer  conveyed  it  to  citizens  of  Massachu- 
setts, who  were  always  afterwards  known  as  the  original 
proprietors.  The  date  of  said  resolve  was  June  2d, 
1798.  The  township  was  conveyed  to  the  original 
proprietors  two  days  after.  The  conveyance  to  Levi 
Lincoln,  one  of  the  proprietors,  runs  as  follows :  "Know 
all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Thompson  Joseph 
Skinner  of  Williamstown,  in  the  County  of  Berkshire  in 
the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  Esq.,  in  my 
capacity  of  treasurer  of   the    corporation    of   Williams 


10  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

College  in  said  Williamstown  and  in  behalf  of  the  presi- 
dent and  trustees  of  said  College,  in  consideration  of 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars  paid  me  in  my  capacity 
as  aforesaid  by  Levi  Lincoln  of  Worcester  in  the  County 
of  Worcester  and  Commonwealth  aforesaid,  Esq.,  the 
receipt  whereof  I  as  treasurer,  as  aforesaid,  do  hereby 
acknowledge,  I  do  hereby  in  my  office  and  capacity  as 
aforesaid  of  treasurer,  and  pursuant  to  the  vote  and  order 
of  aforesaid  president  and  trustees  of  Williams  College 
aforesaid,  give,  grant,  sell  and  convey  unto  the  said  Levi 
Lincoln  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  one  fourth  part  of 
a  township  of  land  situate,  lying  and  being  in  the  County 
of  Hancock  in  the  district  of  Maine,  containing  in  the 
whole  twenty-three  thousand  and  forty  acres,  equal  to  a 
township  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  square,  said  town- 
ship being  number  three  in  the  fifth  range  of  townships 
North  of  the  Waldo  Patent,  as  the  same  was  surveyed  by 
Ephraim  Ballard  and  Samuel  Weston  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-two,  said 
township  bounded  easterly  by  number  two  in  the  same 
range,  southerly  by  number  three  in  the  fourth 
range,  westerly  by  number  four  in  the  fifth  or 
same  range  and  northerly  by  number  three  in  the  sixth 
range,  excepting  and  reserving  however,  from  said  town- 
ship three  lots  of  three  hundred  and  twent}^  acres  each 
for  the  following  uses,  viz :  one  lot  for  the  first  settled 
minister,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  one  lot  for  the  use  of  the 
ministry  and  one  lot  for  the  use  of  schools  in  said  town- 
ship. To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  premises 
with  the  appurtenances  thereof  to  the  said  Levi  Lincoln, 
his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  to  his  and  their  use  and 
behoof  forever,  the  said  land  so  granted  to  the  said  Levi 
Lincoln,  his  heirs  and  assigns  as  aforesaid  now  lying  in 
common  with  undivided  lands  of  Seth  Hastings  of 
Mendon  in  the  County  of  Worcester  aforesaid,  Gentle- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  11 

man,  Samuel  Sanger  of  Sherburne  in  the  County  of 
Middlesex  and  Commonwealth  aforesaid,  Gentleman, 
Calvin  Sanger  of  said  Sherburne,  Yeoman,  Elias  Grout 
of  same  Sherburne,  Blacksmith,  and  Samuel  Sanger,  Jr. , 
of  Boston,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  and  Commonwealth 
aforesaid.  Merchant,  who  are  the  owners  and  proprietors 
of  the  remaining  part  of  the  before  described  township 
of  land,  being  now  tenants  in  common  with  the  said 
Levi  Lincoln,  and  with  each  other  according  to  their 
respective  shares  and  rights  as  specified  by  their  respective 
deeds  made  by  me  to  each  of  them  in  my  capacity  of 
treasurer  aforesaid:  Provided  the  said  Levi  Lincoln, 
Seth  Hastings,  Samuel  Sanger,  Calvin  Sanger,  Elias 
Grout  and  Samuel  Sawyer,  Jr.,  their  heirs  or  assigns  or 
any  of  them  shall,  and  do  comply  with  and  perform 
according  to  their  true  intent  and  meaning,  the  several 
conditions  mentioned  in  a  resolve  of  the  Legislature  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  made  and  passed 
on  the  4th  day  of  February  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-six,  granting  two 
townships  of  land  to  the  trustees  of  WiUiams  College 
aforesaid  so  far  as  relates  to  one  of  said  townships  which 
resolve  is  in  the  following  words,  viz:  (The  resolve 
referred  to  will  be  found  on  a  preceding  page. ) 

"And  I,  the  said  Thompson  Joseph  Skinner  do  in  my 
capacity  of  treasurer  as  aforesaid  and  by  authority  and 
direction  from  and  for,  and  in  behalf  of  the  president 
and  trustees  of  Williams  College  aforesaid,  and  pursuant 
to  the  vote  and  order  of  the  corporation  of  said  College, 
covenant  to  and  with  the  said  Levi  Lincoln  his  heirs 
and  assigns  that  the  said  president  and  trustees  of  said 
Williams  College  are  lawfully  seized  in  fee  in  their 
corporate  capacity  as  aforesaid  of  the  afore  granted 
premises,  that  they  are  free  of  all  incumbrances,  (except- 
ing the  conditions  to  be  performed  and  the  reservations 


12  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

to  be  made  as  aforesaid)  that  the  trustees  of  Williams 
College  aforesaid  in  the  capacity  aforesaid  have  good 
right  to  sell  and  by  me  the  said  Thompson  Joseph 
Skinner  in  my  capacity  of  treasurer,  to  the  said  corpora- 
tion as  aforesaid  to  convey  the  same  to  the  said  Levi 
Lincoln,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  in  manner  as 
aforesaid,  and  that  the  said  president  and  trustees  and 
their  successors  in  said  office  will  forever,  hereafter,  war- 
rant, secure  and  defend  the  same  premises  to  the  said 
Levi  Lincoln  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  against  the 
lawful  claims  of  all  persons  whatsoever. 

"In  witness  whereof,  I,  the  said  Thompson  Joseph 
Skinner,  in  m}^  official  capacity  of  treasurer  of  the  cor- 
poration of  Williams  College  aforesaid,  and  for,  and  in 
behalf  of  the  president  and  trustees  of  said  college,  pur- 
suant to  their  vote  and  order  in  their  corporate  capacity, 
have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  affixed  the  seal  of  said 
corporation  this  fourth  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  ninety-eight. 

"Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  us 
whose  names  are  hereunto  written. 

"Thompson  Joseph  Skinner  (L  S.)" 

" — Addenda — 
"N.   B.      The  word  Mendon  and  the  word  Gentleman 
on  the  first  page,  erased  and  the  word  Esq.  inserted. 

"Also  the  words  Seth  Hastings  in  the  second  page 
erased. 

"Also  the  words  Seth  Hastings  in  the  third  page 
erased  and  Levi  Lincoln  interlined  before  the  execution 
of  this  deed. 

"And  also  the  words — and  Northerly  by  number  three 
in  the  sixth  range  in  the  first  page  interlined  before  exe- 
cuting this  deed. 

o-        1       Park  Holland. 
^  Thomas  Wolcott.  " 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  13 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  addenda  that  Seth  Hastings 
dropped  out  as  one  of  the  proprietors  and  that  his  inter- 
est was  transferred  to  Levi  Lincoln. 

''Common WEALTH  of  Massachusetts. 

"Suffolk  ss.  Boston,  5th  of  June,  1798,  Personally 
appeared  the  above  named  Thompson  Joseph  Skinner, 
Esq. ,  and  acknowledged  the  foregoing  deed  to  be  his  free 
act  and  deed  before  me,  Elisha  May,  Justice  of  the 
Peace  throughout  the  Commonwealth." 

"Hancock  ss.      North  District. 

"Received  July  14th,  1814,  and  recorded  in  Book 
number  one,  page  121,  and  examined  by  John  Wilkins 
Register. 

"A  true  copy  as  of  record: 
Attest  Isaac  Hodsdon 

Clerk  of  the  Judicial  Courts 
and  acting  Register  of  deeds." 


The   Waldo  Patent 

The  geographic  situation  of  the  township,  now 
Garland,  having  been  originally  described  as  township 
number  three  in  the  fifth  range  of  townships  north 
of  the  Waldo  Patent,  the  inquisitive  reader  will  desire 
to  know  something  of  the  history  of  that  patent. 

In  March,  1630,  John  Beauchamp  of  London,  Eng- 
land, and  Thomas  Leverett  of  Boston,  England,  obtained 
a  grant  of  land  from  a  company  acting  under  the 
authority  of  the  government  of  England.  This  grant 
was  first  known  as  the  Muscongus  Patent  from  the  river 
that  formed  a  part  of  its  western  boundary.      From  the 


14  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

seacoast,  it  extended  northerly  between  Penobscot  Bay 
and  River  on  the  east,  and  the  Muscongus  River  on  the 
west,  to  the  line  that  constitutes  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  present  towns  of  Hampden,  Newburg  and 
Dixmont. 

This  grant  or  patent  embraced  a  territory  of  thirty- 
six  miles  square.  It  conveyed  nothing  but  the  right  of 
exclusive  trade  with  the  Indians,  to  promote  which  a 
trading  house  was  built  and  supplied  with  such  articles 
of  exchange  as  were  necessary  to  a  successful  traffic. 
This  traffic  was  carried  on  without  interruption  to  the 
mutual  advantage  of  the  whites  and  natives  until  the 
opening  of  the  first  Indian  War  in  1675,  a  period  of 
forty-five  years. 

About  the  year  1720  this  patent  passed  into  the  hands 
of  a  wealthy  family  of  Boston  of  the  name  of  Waldo 
and  from  that  time  it  was  known  as  the  Waldo  Patent. 

In  the  year  1759,  a  ver}^  sad  event  occurred  in  an 
attempt  to  find  the  northern  limit  of  this  patent. 

When  the  work  of  building  Fort  Pownal  had  been 
fairly  inaugurated  Governor  Pownal  ascended  the  river 
with  a  large  escort.  The  object  of  this  expedition  seems 
to  have  been  for  the  purpose  of  a  conference  with  the 
Indians.  He  was  accompanied  by  General  Samuel 
Waldo,  a  representative  of  the  interests  of  the  Waldo 
family,  who  had  taken  great  interest  in  the  construction 
of  the  fort,  believing  that  its  presence  on  the  river  would 
be  of  great  advantage  to  the  proprietors  of  the  patent. 
Arriving  at  the  southern  limit  of  the  present  town  of 
Hampden,  the  expedition  landed.  General  Waldo  hav- 
ing withdrawn  a  short  distance  from  his  companions,  sud- 
denly turned  and  exclaimed,  "Here  is  my  bound!"  The 
exclamation  was  followed  by  an  event  intensely  tragical. 
Scarcely  had  it  escaped  his  lips  when  he  fell  and  expired 
instantly. 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  15 

Gen.  Waldo  was  held  in  high  esteem  for  his  sterling 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart.  His  sudden  death  produced 
a  profound  impression  upon  his  companions.  He  was 
buried  near  the  fort  where  his  body  remained  for  some 
years,  but  was  ultimately  removed  to  Boston. 

It  has  been  noted  that  the  exterior  lines  of  the  present 
town  of  Garland  were  run  by  Ephraim  Ballard  and 
Samuel  Weston  in  1792.  In  the  year  1800,  Moses 
Hodsdon,  a  resident  of  the  present  town  of  Kenduskeag, 
assisted  by  David  A.  Gove,  Daniel  Wilkins  and  a  Mr. 
Shores,  surveyed  the  townships  into  lots.  Isaac  Wheeler, 
Esq.,  who  was  afterwards  a  prominent  citizen  of  the 
town,  accompanied  the  surveying  party. 


Original  Designation 

The  town  of  Garland  was  originally  described  as 
number  three  in  the  fifth  range  of  townships  north  of 
the  Waldo  Patent.  As  has  been  noted,  the  present 
towns  of  Hampden,  Newburg  and  Dixmont  constituted 
the  first  range  north  of  this  patent.  Bradford  was  num- 
ber one,  Charleston  number  two,  Garland  number  three 
and  Dexter  number  four  in  the  fifth  range  of  townships 
north  of  the  Waldo  Patent. 


Boundaries  and  Natural  Features 

Garland  is  bounded  north  by  Dover,  east  by  Charles- 
ton, south  by  Exeter  and  west  by  Dexter.  It  is  in  touch 
with  SangerviUe  on  the  northwest,  with  Atkinson  on  the 


16  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

northeast,  with  Corinth  on  the  southeast  and  Corinna 
on  the  southwest. 

Measuring  from  east  to  west  it  is  very  near  the  center 
of  the  State. 

It  occupies  a  central  site  between  the  northern  and 
southern  limits  of  the  inhabited  sections  of  the  State. 

It  covers  an  area  of  thirty-six  square  miles.  The 
southerly  half  of  the  town  is  moderately  level.  Its  soil 
is  well  adapted  to  the  production  of  crops  common  to 
central  Maine.  Its  northerly  section  is  traversed  from 
east  to  west  by  an  elevated  range  of  land  about  three 
hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  southern  section  and 
it  was  originally  covered  by  a  remarkably  heavy  forest 
growth  of  bass,  beech,  birch,  maple,  hemlock  and 
spruce.  In  the  wheat-growing  period  it  was  noted  for 
its  excellent  crops  of  wheat.  At  the  present  time,  while 
crops  common  to  this  section  of  the  State  are  success- 
fully cultivated,  it  exceeds  in  its  hay-producing  and  gra- 
zing adaptation.  It  is  an  excellent  dairy  section  of  the 
State. 

Some  of  the  higher  points  of  the  range  of  land 
traversing  the  northerly  section  of  the  town,  are  about 
eight  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  command- 
ing a  great  variety  of  views,  from  the  wildly  picturesque 
to  those  of  surpassing  beauty.  At  the  north  the  tower- 
ing forms  of  Katahdin,  Boarstone  and  Russell  Mountains 
arrest  attention,  while,  in  restful  contrast,  the  productive 
farms  of  the  Piscataquis  Valley,  covered  in  summer  with 
growing  crops  and  grazing  herds,  present  a  scene  of 
rural  beauty  which  is  seldom  surpassed  in  central  Maine. 

At  the  south  the  view  extends  to  the  range  of  hills 
thirty  miles  away,  of  which  the  Dixmont  Hills  are  a 
section,  and  embraces  the  area  of  a  dozen  towns  in  one 
of  the  finest  agricultural  regions  in  central  Maine. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  17 

A  Notable  Natural  Feature 

Near  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  town  a  remarkable 
ravine  or  pass,  locally  known  as  the  "notch,"  bisects 
the  elevated  range  of  land  which  has  been  described. 
This  ravine  is  about  two  miles  in  length,  three  hundred 
feet  in  depth  at  the  deepest  point  and  just  wide  enough 
at  the  bottom  for  the  county  road  which  passes  through 
it.  Before  the  advent  of  the  railroad  to  this  part  of 
Maine,  it  was  regarded  as  the  natural  outlet  to  the  out- 
side markets  for  the  inhabitants  of  Piscataquis  County. 
In  harmony  with  this  view,  a  road  was  established 
through  the  ravine  in  1846  by  the  joint  action  of  the 
commissioners  of  Penobscot  and  Piscataquis  Counties. 

It  was  not  built  and  open  for  travel  until  1860.  The 
course  of  the  ravine  through  the  hilly  range  is  south, 
bearing  a  little  to  the  east. 

A  moraine,  locally  known  as  a  horseback,  approaches 
the  ravine  from  the  north,  terminating  at  its  entrance. 
Resuming  its  form  and  course  at  the  south  end  of  the 
ravine,  it  extends  through  several  towns. 

At  some  points  this  moraine  presents  the  appearance 
of  a  well  constructed  road.  At  other  points  it  broadens 
and  sometimes  reaches  an  elevation  of  forty  or  fifty  feet. 
Sections  of  it  are  used  for  the  public  travel  and  are  kept 
in  good  condition  at  trifling  cost.  On  each  side  of  the 
hilly  range  near  the  line  of  the  moraine  there  are  deep 
basins  resembling  the  basin  of  a  pond. 

Geologists  trace  the  existence  of  the  ravine,  the 
moraine  and  basins  to  the  same  source. 

According  to  their  theory,  an  immense  glacier  or  ice- 
berg, coming  from  the  north  in  the  glacial  period  of 
many  thousand  years  ago,  moving  with  irresistible  force 
towards  the  present  oceanic  waters,  made  its  way  through 
the  hilly  range  leaving    the    notch    to    inspire    coming 


18  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

generations  with  wonder.  In  its  progress  it  had  scooped 
up  enormous  quantities  of  drift,  which,  becoming  incor- 
porated with  it,  formed  a  constituent  part  of  this  huge 
glacier. 

As  it  moved  onward,  the  drift,  including  clay,  sand, 
gravel,  pebbles  and  boulders,  was  deposited,  forming  a 
ridge  now  known  as  a  moraine.  An  examination  of  this 
moraine  reveals  the  existence  of  all  the  materials  included 
in  the  geologic  term,  drift. 


Water  Courses 

The  town  of  Garland  divides  its  waters  between  the 
Penobscot  and  Kennebec  Rivers.  The  Kenduskeag, 
which  is  the  largest  stream  in  the  town,  rises  near  the 
center  of  the  town  of  Dexter  from  north  to  south,  and 
nearly  two  miles  west  of  its  eastern  limit.  It  flows  into 
Pleasant  Pond,  a  small  sheet  of  water  extending  from 
West  Garland  into  Dexter.  Emerging  from  Pleasant 
Pond,  it  flows  easterly  to  Garland  Village,  thence  south- 
easterly through  the  towns  of  Corinth,  Kenduskeag  and 
Glenbum  to  Bangor,  where  its  waters  mingle  with  those 
of  the  Penobscot  River.  On  its  course  through  Garland 
its  waters  are  used  to  propel  machinery  at  West  Garland, 
Garland  Village  and  Holt's  Mills.  The  Kenduskeag  is 
fed  by  numerous  streamlets  flowing  from  the  southern 
slope  of  the  hilly  range  which  traverses  the  town  from 
east  to  west. 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  19 

Main  Stream 

Main  Stream  rises  on  the  north  side  of  the  hilly  range 
in  Garland  and  enters  Dexter  near  its  northeast  corner. 
After  leaving  Dexter  i*  finds  its  way  to  the  Kennebec 
River  through  Moose  1  ond  in  Harmony  and  the  Sebasti- 
cook  Stream. 


Sources  of  Information  Relating  to  the  Local 
History  of  Garland 

Existing  records  show  when  and  by  whom  the 
exterior  lines  of  the  present  town  of  Garland  were  run ; 
also  when  and  by  whom  the  township  was  divided 
into  lots.  Mr.  Williamson,  in  his  histor}'  of  Maine, 
tells  us  in  a  single  brief  sentence  upon  the  authority  of 
Abner  Sanborn,  a  former  prominent  and  intelligent 
citizen  of  the  township,  that  the  beginnings  were 
made  by  Joseph  Garland,  Isaac  Wheeler  and  Josiah 
Bartlett.  Also  Levi  Lincoln  was  one  of  the  original 
proprietors,  hence  the  plantation  was  called  Lincolntown. 
But  of  the  occurrences  aside  from  these,  from  1802  to 
1811,  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  find  any  record. 
The  early  settlers,  confronted  by  common  hardships, 
inspired  by  common  purposes  and  bound  together  by 
common  sympathies,  worked  together  for  the  common 
welfare.  But  this  was  the  voluntary  labor  of  the  mem- 
bers of  an  unorganized  community  and  there  is  no 
record  of  purposes  or  results.  The  material  for  the 
history  of  the  nine  eventful  years  that  precede  the  incor- 
poration of  the  town,  is,  therefore,  of  a  traditional 
character. 


20  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Who  the  first  settlers  were — whence,  when  and  why 
they  came — where  they  made  their  beginnings — the 
hardships  they  encountered — the  privations  they  suffered 
— most  of  these  things  rest  largely  upon  human  remem- 
brances. But  the  remembrances  of  the  events  of  those 
early  years  were  very  clear  in  the  minds  of  many  of  the 
men  who  lived  to  see  the  middle  of  the  century  that  wit- 
nessed their  early  struggles  in  the  wilderness.  Events, 
which,  in  the  rush  of  the  present  would  be  forgotten  in 
a  day  if  noticed  at  all,  were  full  of  meaning  to  them  and 
never  forgotten.  The  crowing  of  a  cock,  the  curling 
smoke  above  the  tree  tops  in  new  directions  were  to 
them  joyful  assurances  of  the  coming  of  other  families 
into  the  townships. 

The  advent  of  the  first  physician  was  an  occasion  for 
special  rejoicing.  The  occasional  sermon  from  an 
itinerary  minister  was  never  obliterated  from  the  memory 
of  those  who  heard  it. 

The  coming  of  the  blacksmith,  of  the  carpenter,  of 
the  shoemaker,  of  the  tanner,  supplied  wants  of  pressing 
importance.  These,  and  kindred  events  which  now  seem 
trivial,  were  to  them  matters  of  vital  interest.  They 
were  occasions  for  the  exchange  of  congratulations  among 
themselves,  and  were  rehearsed  to  their  children  and 
grandchildren  with  a  frequency  and  particularity  of 
detail  that  riveted  them  in  the  minds  of  both  narrator 
and  listener. 

Among  the  persons  who  furnished  valuable  information 
relating  to  events  which  occurred,  both  before  and  after 
the  incorporation  of  the  town,  were  Deacon  John  S. 
Haskell  and  his  sons — Daniel  M.,  John  K.,  Wm.  S. 
and  Jacob  W.  Haskell, — Moses  Gordon  and  his  sons, 
Horace,  Parker  and  Albert  G.  Gordon.  Special  acknowl- 
edgements are  due  to  Moses  G.  Gordon  for  much  valua- 
ble information  relating  to  the  earliest  inhabitants  of*  the 
town. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  21 

Stories  of  the  Pioneers 

In  1846,  and  the  years  immediately  following,  the 
writer  was  an  occasional  listener  to  stories  of  pioneer 
life  in  Garland  from  the  lips  of  the  pioneers.  These 
stories  were  of  tedious  journey ings  to  the  township  while 
yet  it  was  a  part  of  a  wilderness  of  many  miles  in  extent 
— sometimes  in  mid- winter  on  sleds  drawn  by  slow  mov- 
ing teams,  when  men,  women  and  children  were  assailed 
by  pitiless  blasts  and  drifting  snows — sometimes  on 
horseback,  when  the  rider  with  his  scant  supply  of  food 
and  clothing  closely  packed  in  a  leather  bag,  pursued  his 
lonely  way,  guided  by  spotted  lines — sometimes  on  foot 
when  the  maker  of  a  future  home,  with  his  bundle  dan- 
gling from  the  handle  of  the  axe  across  his  shoulder  made 
slow  progress  towards  the  township  of  his  choice;  and 
sometimes  a  part  of  the  little  journey  was  performed  on 
rude  fishing  smacks,  manned  by  drunken  sailors,  when 
the  passengers  were  in  constant  peril  of  being  consigned 
to  watery  graves. 

Graphic  descriptions  were  given  of  hastily  consti-ucted 
cabins,  where  chilly  snows  driven  by  wintry  blasts  entered 
unbidden,  destitute  of  every  convenience  that  makes 
housekeeping  attractive — with  hand  to  hand  contests 
with  the  stern  old  forest  that  had  withstood  the  storms 
of  centuries,  for  the  possession  of  a  cleared  space  whereon 
to  make  a  home  and  secure  the  crops  for  the  subsistence 
of  the  family — of  painful,  and  often  final  separation 
from  relatives  and  friends,  to  whom  they  were  bound  by 
ties  of  blood  and  friendship,  and  deprived,  even,  of  com- 
munication with  them  except  at  long  and  uncertain  inter- 
vals, when  the  nearest  post-office  was  twenty-five  miles 
away  and  could  be  reached  only  on  foot  or  horseback 
and  the  postage  on  two  letters  would  cost  a  healthy 
woman  the  wages  of  a  full  week — of  struggles  with  debts 


22  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

in  a  region  destitute  of  currency — of  burdens  of  build- 
ing roads  and  bridges  without  the  power  of  levying 
taxes — of  destitution  of  schools  and  religious  privileges, 
which  in  a  New  England  community  were  esteemed  as 
among  the  most  precious  legacies  of  New  England 
citizenship. 

It  must  not  be  inferred,  however,  that  to  the  early 
settlers,  life  in  the  wilderness,  invested  as  it  was  with 
privations  and  hardships,  was  devoid  of  enjoyment. 
They  were  robust,  earnest,  courageous  men.  The  grand 
old  forest  which  covered  their  rude  cabins  was  a  constant 
inspiration  to  noble  endeavor.  They  had  an  important 
and  well  defined  end  to  accomplish,  which  was  nothing 
less  than  to  subdue  the  wilderness  that  had  covered  the 
haunts  of  the  moose,  the  wolf  and  the  bear,  and  replace 
it  with  the  institutions  of  civilization.  They  came  to 
lay  the  foundation  of  a  typical  New  England  community, 
which,  in  due  time,  would  become  a  constituent  part  of 
an  independent  state. 

In  their  visions  of  the  future,  they  saw  the  wilderness 
retiring  step  by  step  before  their  vigorous  assaults,  to 
give  place  to  fields  of  waving  grain,  to  pastures  covered 
with  flocks  and  herds,  and  orchards  laden  with  fruit. 
They  saw  attractive  and  convenient  houses  in  place  of 
log-cabins  and  rude  huts.  They  saw  those  characteristic 
institutions  of  New  England,  the  church  and  the  school- 
house,  smiling  from  the  hilltops  and  nestling  in  the  val- 
leys. They  saw,  also,  the  New  England  town  meeting, 
where  the  capable  and  ambitious  would  be  called  to 
places  of  honor  and  trust,  and  the  humblest  citizen  would 
have  a  voice  on  all  questions  of  local  policy.  All  these 
things  came  within  the  range  of  their  expectations  and 
each  step  in  the  actual  present  towards  the  realization 
of  the  ideal  future  afforded  satisfaction  and  encourage- 
ment. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  23 

Disappeai'ing 

At  the  date  of  the  narrations  alluded  to  in  the  fore- 
going chapter,  more  than  forty  years  had  elapsed  since 
the  blows  of  the  settler's  axe  were  first  heard  in  the 
township.  Those  who  had  come  in  the  strength  of 
early  manhood,  if  living,  were  far  advanced  in  life. 
Some  had  moved  to  other  places  to  find  homes  with  chil- 
dren or  relatives.  Others  "weary  with  the  march  of 
life"  were  dropping  from  the  ranks.  They  had  wrought 
weir  and  endured  much,  not  for  themselves  alone,  but  for 
their  descendants  as  well.  Their  sturdy  blows  compelled 
the  wilderness  to  give  place  to  the  homes  we  occupy. 
They  richly  merit  a  warm  place  in  the  memory  of  those 
who  come  after  them.  Let  not  their  voices  come  to  us 
from  the  misty  past  in  the  pathetic  refrain : 

*'Ye  do  not  answer  us!     Ye  do  not  hear! 
We  are  forgotten  and,  in  your  austere 
And  calm  indifference,  ye  little  care 
Whether  we  come  or  go,  or  whence  or  where. 

'*What  passing  generations  fill  these  halls, 
What  passing  voices  echo  from  these  walls 
Ye  heed  not!     We  are  only  as  the  blast, 
A  moment  heard  and  then  forever  past!'* 

Longfellow. 

No,  the  men  to  whom  we  owe  so  much  must  never  be 
forgotten.  The  printed  page  shall  bear  to  the  genera- 
tions which  follow  them  and  us  the  history  of  their  deeds. 


24  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Beginnings 

"Waking,  1  dream.     Before  my  vacant  eyes, 
In  long  procession,  shadowy  forms  arise; 
Far  through  the  vista  of  the  silent  years, 
I  see  a  venturous  band — the  pioneers, 
Who  let  the  sunlight  through  the  forest  gloom, 
Who  bade  the  harvest  wave,  the  garden  bloom." 

O.  W.  Holmes. 

At  the  opening  of  the  summer  of  1801,  the  present 
town  of  Garland  presented  an  area  of  six  square  miles 
of  heavy  forest  growth,  the  continuity  of  which  was 
nowhere  broken  except  by  a  small  natural  pond  lying 
partly  in  Garland  and  partly  in  Dexter,  from  which 
flows  the  Kenduskeag  stream,  and  several  small  bogs  at 
difl*erent  points.  But  this  condition  of  things  was  soon 
to  be  changed. 

Forces  had  been  organized  which,  in  due  time,  would 
transfer  the  township  to  the  influences  of  civilization. 


The    First    Opening 

It  is  the  month  of  June  of  the  summer  of  1801.  The 
reader  may  imagine  that  one  of  the  sturdy  pioneers  has 
come  to  the  township  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  a  lot 
of  land  whereon  he  may  establish  a  home.  Our  pioneer 
believes  that  he  will  have  the  first  choice  of  lots  within 
the  limits  of  the  township,  and  proposes  to  make  a 
leisurely  and  careful  examination  of  its  diff*erent  sections 
so  that  his  selections  may  not  discredit  his  judgment  in 
the  years  to  come.  To  facilitate  the  work  he  has  in 
hand,  he  establishes  his  camp  near  the  center  of  the 
township,  close  by  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of 
James  M.  Stone,  originally  the  Joseph  True  place. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  %D 

On  a  beautiful  June  morning,  after  a  hastily  prepared 
breakfast  of  pork  and  Indian  bread,  he  starts  out  from 
camp  and  guided  by  the  surveyor's  line  of  the  preceding 
year,  which  leads  him  over  the  present  route  of  the 
center  road  running  east,  he  travels  leisurely  towards  the 
eastern  limit  of  the  township.  At  the  end  of  one  and  a 
half  miles  he  has  reached  the  elevation  upon  which  Joseph 
C.  Treadwell  now  resides.  He  still  fan(Jies  that  he  is  the 
only  human  being  in  the  township.  But  the  illusion  is 
suddenly  dispelled  by  the  ring  of  the  sharp,  incisive 
blows  of  an  axe  plied  by  sinewy  arms.  Recovering  his 
equanimity,  which  had  for  the  moment  been  disturbed  by 
the  discovery  that  he  was  not  alone  in  the  township,  he 
passes  eagerly  towards  the  spot  from  which  the  sounds 
proceed.  He  reaches  the  point  of  interest  in  time  to  see 
one  of  those  giants  of  the  foi-est  that  has  withstood  the 
storms  of  centuries,  yield  to  the  blows  of  the  woods- 
man's axe  and  move  majestically  through  the  air,  carry- 
ing to  the  ground  in  the  embrace  of  its  long,  strong  arms, 
many  a  smaller  tree  standing  in  range,  that  has  been 
"notched,"  with  a  force  that  seemed  to  shake  the  solid 
earth.  Advancing  a  few  rods,  he  finds  himself  face  to 
face  with  the  man  the  blows  of  whose  axe  attracted  him 
to  the  spot.  He  learns  that  the  name  of  this  man  is 
David  A.  Gove,  that  he  is  an  agent  of  the  proprietors  to 
promote  the  settlement  of  the  township,  that  he  is  a 
resident  of  New  Ohio,  now  Corinth,  that  he  emigrated 
from  Nottingham,  N.  H.,  that  he  selected  this  lot  while 
assisting  in  the  survey  of  the  township  the  preceding 
year  for  his  friend,  Josiah  Bartlett  of  Nottingham,  who 
intends  to  establish  a  home  here,  and  that  he  has  just 
commenced  felling  ten  acres  of  trees  for  Mr.  Bartlett. 

This  first  opening  was  made  in  1801  upon  the  elevation 
on  the  old  Bartlett  farm  now  covered  by  an  orchard,  a 
little  way  east  of  the  present  residence  of  Calvin 
Campbell.      This  lot  is  number  three  in  the  sixth  range. 


26  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Conflicting    Claims 

Some  of  the  friends  of  the  late  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq. , 
have  claimed  for  him  the  distinction  of  making  the  first 
opening  in  the  township.  This  claim  does  not  seem  to 
be  well  founded.  It  is  certain  that  his  beginning  was 
not  made  earlier  than  1802.  His  friends  do  not  claim 
for  it  an  earlier  date.  The  late  Obed  Bartlett  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  said  that  he  had  often  heard  his  father,  Josiah 
Bartlett,  affirm  that  his  was  the  first  opening  in  the 
township. 

Deacon  John  S.  Haskell  felled  ten  acres  of  trees  in  the 
township  in  1802.  He  says  that  the  sixteen  or  eighteen 
men  who  had  beginnings  in  that  year  worked  in  com- 
panies of  five  or  six  men  each  upon  one  lot  after  another, 
or,  in  the  parlance  of  the  times,  they  changed  work — 
that  at  the  end  of  each  week  they  repaired  to  the  resi- 
dence of  a  Mr.  Sanborn  in  Charleston  to  spend  the 
Sabbath,  and  that  on  their  way  to  that  point  they 
passed  an  opening  on  the  old  Bartlett  place  which  they 
supposed  was  made  a  year  earlier.  There  was  a  tradition 
among  the  old  settlers  of  a  good  natured  rivalry  between 
Josiah  Bartlett  and  Joseph  Garland  relating  to  the  name 
that  should  be  given  to  the  township  when  incorporated. 
Mr.  Bartlett  claimed  the  honor  of  giving  it  his  name  for 
the  reason  that  his  opening  was  the  first  therein.  Mr. 
Garland  claimed  the  honor  upon  the  ground  that  he  had 
established  the  first  family  in  the  township.  The 
parties  to  the  dispute  finally  agreed  that  the  one  who 
presented  the  first  son  to  the  township,  born  within  its 
limits,  should  be  allowed  to  give  his  own  name  to  the 
future  town.  An  event  soon  after  occurred  in  the  family 
of  Mr.  Garland  that  decided  the  question  in  his  favor, 
and  when  it  was  incorporated  in  1811,  it  took  the  name 
of  Garland  by  unanimous  consent. 


HISTORY    OF    GARI^ND,     MAINE  2T 

Events  of  1802  in  the  Township 

The  events  that  occurred  in  the  township  in  1802 
seemed  to  promise  its  early  occupation  by  famiHes.  In 
the  summer  of  this  year  openings  were  made  on  nine- 
teen different  lots  with  the  purpose  of  making  homes 
for  an  equal  number  of  families.  These  openings  were 
widely  scattered  over  the  township.  The  proprietors 
had  unwisely  determined  to  withhold  from  sale  the  lots 
on  each  alternate  range  with  the  expectation  that  when 
the  lots  available  to  settlers  had  been  peopled,  those  on 
the  reserved  ranges  would  command  higher  prices.  This 
policy  brought  numerous  hardships  and  discomforts  to 
the  inhabitants  and  retarded  the  growth  of  the  township. 
It  separated  families  by  long  distances  in  a  wilderness, 
destitute  of  i*oads,  while  every  consideration  of  comfort 
and  convenience,  of  safety  and  sympathy,  made  it  very 
desirable  to  have  these  homes  in  such  proximity  to  each 
other  as  to  favor  neighborly  intercourse. 

It  increased  largely  the  burdens  of  road  making  and 
delayed  the  division  of  the  town  into  school  districts, 
the  building  of  school  houses  and  the  opening  of   schools. 

The  names  of  the  men  who  made  beginnings  in  the 
township  in  the  summer  of  1802,  the  places  from  wliich 
they  came  so  far  as  known,  and  the  lots  upon  which  they 
settled,  are  as  follows : 

Moses  Hodsdon  of  Levant,  Me.,  now  Kenduskeag, 
took  possession  of  lot  number  seven  of  the  fourth  range 
as  agent  of  the  pi*oprietors  who  desired  to  retain  it 
because  it  encompassed  the  principal  water  power  in  the 
township.  Lot  number  seven  in  the  sixth  range  was 
selected  by  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  of  Rutland,  Mass. 
John  S.  Haskell  of  New  Gloucester,  Maine,  selected  lot 
number  eleven  in  the  fifth  range,  which  is  now  owned  by 
one  of  his  grandsons.      Thomas  S.  Tyler  settled  on  lot 


28  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

number  nine  in  the  fifth  range.  Edward  Sargent  of 
Boscawen,  N.  H.,  made  a  beginning  on  lot  number 
three  in  the  fifth  range.  He  built  a  camp  near  the 
present  residence  of  Samuel  O.  Davis.  Being  a  car- 
penter he  early  came  to  the  conclusion  that  a  carpenter's 
wages  in  Bangor  promised  a  more  certain  support  for  a 
family  than  farming  in  a  new  township.  He  left  the 
township  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Bangor.  Samuel 
O.  Davis  and  David  Allen  now  own  and  occupy  the  lot 
abandoned  by  Edward  Sargent. 

William  Sargent,  a  brother  of  Edward  Sargent,  made 
a  beginning  on  lot  number  three  in  the  fifth  range,  where 
he  resided  for  several  years.  About  the  year  1817,  he 
caught  what  was  then  known  as  the  "Ohio  fever,"  a 
disease  that  resulted  from  cold  seasons  preceding  that 
date,  and  like  many  other  citizens  of  Maine,  he  sought 
relief  by  emigrating  to  Ohio.  The  lot  which  he  aban- 
doned was  unoccupied  until  182S,  when  Joseph  Sargent, 
a  brother  of  William,  purchased  it  and  erected  buildings 
upon  it,  where  he  resided  for  man}^  years.  It  subsequently 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Luther  Hideout  and  is  now 
occupied  by  his  son,  James  L.  Rideout. 

John  M.  Chase,  from  Danville,  Maine,  made  a  begin- 
ning on  lot  number  one  in  the  seventh  range.  It  after- 
wards passed  into  the  hands  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.  It 
was  owned  and  occupied  by  Ezekiel  Page  for  some  years 
and  subsequently  by  Bradbury  G.  Atkins,  whose  family 
own  and  occupy  it  at  the  present  time. 

John  Tyler,  from  New  Gloucester,  Maine,  made  a 
beginning  on  lot  five  in  the  seventh  range.  The  Tyler 
place  was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  John  L. 
Jack  man.  Charles  H.  Brown  is  the  present  owner  and 
occupant. 

Joseph  Garland,  who  had  the  honor  of  giving  name 
to    the    town,    made    a  beginning  upon  lot  nine  in  the 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  29 

seventh  range,  where  he  cleared  land,  erected  buildings 
and  resided  for  about  twenty-five  years.  Samuel  Greeley, 
from  Salisbury,  N.  H.,  purchased  this  farm  about  the 
year  1 827,  where  he  livAl  until  his  death,  when  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  his  son,  James  Greeley.  It  is  now 
owned  by  David  Dearborn. 

Enos  Quimby  made  a  beginning  on  lot  number  ten  in 
the  seventh  range,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time. 

Thomas  Finson  made  a  beginning  on  lot  four,  which  he 
subsequently  sold  to  Moses  Smith  and  left  the  township. 
Mr.  Finson  emigrated  from  New  Gloucester,  Maine. 

Peter  Chase  made  a  beginning  on  lot  seven  in  the 
seventh  range  and  built  a  house  three  years  later,  but 
abandoned  it  soon  after,  never  having  a  family  here. 

Arnold  Murray,  from  Palermo,  Maine,  made  a  begin- 
ning on  lot  eight  in  the  ninth  range. 

Justus  Harriman,  from  Salisbury,  N.  H.,  made  a 
beginning  on  lot  nine  in  range  nine,  where  he  remained 
through  life. 

James  Garland,  from  Salisbury,  N.  H.,  made  a  l)egin- 
ning  on  lot  ten  in  the  ninth  range. 

Thomas  Gilpatrick  made  a  beginning  on  lot  eleven  in 
the  ninth  range. 

Joseph  Saunders,  from  New  Gloucester,  Maine,  made 
a  beginning  on  a  part  of  lot  four,  range  nine. 

The  ranges  of  land  which  covered  the  surface  of  the 
township  extended  from  its  eastern  to  its  western  limit. 
Of  the  men  who  made  beginnings  in  1802,  five  selected 
lots  on  range  five,  an  equal  numl)er  made  beginnings  on 
range  seven,  and  seven  of  those  men  showed  a  preference 
for  range  nine.  The  latter  range  runs  near  the  summit 
of  the  range  of  hills  which  extends  from  east  to  west 
across  the  northern  section  of  the  town.  This  range 
now  embraces  some  of  the  most  productive  lands  in  the 
town. 


80  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

A  majority  of  the  pioneers  who  made  beginnings  in 
1802  became  residents  of  the  town  for  longer  or  shorter 
periods.  Some  of  them  lived  here  to  a  good  old  age, 
and,  casting  off  the  responsibilities  of  active  life,  where 
many  years  earlier  they  had  assumed  them,  they  quietly 
passed  their  last  years  in  the  homes  which  their  own 
sinewy  arms  had  wrested  from  the  wilderness. 


The    First   Family 

In  the  year  1801,  there  was  living  among  the  hills  of 
New  Hampshire  in  the  town  of  Salisbury,  a  family 
embracing  the  father,  mother,  and  three  children  of  tender 
age,  the  threads  of  whose  subsequent  history  are  closely 
interwoven  with  those  of  the  early  history  of  the  town  of 
Garland.  It  was  the  family  of  Joseph  Garland.  The 
tide  of  emigration  from  various  sections  of  New  Hamp- 
shire was  setting  towards  the  region  in  the  Province  of 
Maine  which  encircles  the  present  city  of  Bangor. 
Moved  by  the  tendencies  of  the  times  and  encouraged 
by  the  favorable  representations  of  relatives  and  acquaint- 
ances who  had  visited  the  township  now  known  as  Gar- 
land, Mr.  Garland  selected  it  as  the  site  of  his  future 
home.  With  two  horses  harnessed  to  an  emigrant's 
wagon  he  started  on  his  tedious  journey  "down  east" 
with  his  family  and  such  household  goods  as  he  would 
first  and  most  need. 

This  was  in  the  autumn  of  1801.  Reaching  the  town 
of  Bucksport,  he  remained  at  the  place  through  the 
winter.  His  nearness  now  to  the  site  of  his  future  home 
enabled  him  to  build  a  small  cabin  of  logs  and  to  make 
preparations  for  the  reception  of  his  family    before  he 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  81 

should  again  change  base.  In  June,  1802,  he  resumed 
his  journey  with  his  family  and  reached  Bangor  at  the 
end  of  the  first  day.  The  second  day's  journey  brought 
the  family  to  the  Wilkins  place,  now  known  as  the 
Bacon  place,  in  the  southwest  part  of  Charleston,  where 
they  passed  the  night.  This  was  the  nearest  point  to 
their  little  cabin  in  the  forest  that  could  be  reached  by 
a  team  of  horses.  Their  journey  was  completed  by 
methods  of  a  more  primitive  character.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  third  and  last  day  of  the  journey,  Mrs. 
Garland  was  helped  to  the  back  of  one  of  the  horses  and 
the  youngest  child  was  placed  in  her  arms.  Mr.  Garland 
mounted  the  second  horse  and  took  another  of  the  chil- 
dren. Daniel  Wilkins,  afterwards  a  weU  known  citizen 
of  Charleston,  took  charge  of  the  third  child.  Thus 
organized,  the  party,  accompanied  by  two  or  three  other 
men,  moved  slowly  but  cheerily  through  a  dense  forest, 
guided  on  their  way  by  spotted  trees.  Crossing  the 
east  line  of  the  township  their  route  led  them  in  a  north- 
westerly direction  near  the  sites  of  the  present  homes  of 
Mrs.  I^onard  Skillin,  Thos.  B.  Packard,  Samuel  O. 
Davis,  James  L.  Hideout,  A.  Hanson  and  thence  north 
of  the  meadow  to  the  store  of  David  E.  Knight.  From 
this  point,  following  the  line  of  the  road  that  leads  to 
the  present  home  of  David  Dearborn,  they  reached  the 
little  cabin  that  rested  in  the  "gloom  of  the  forest"  at 
the  foot  of  the  slope  west  of  the  present  residence  of 
Mr.  Dearborn. 

A  numl^er  of  men  who  were  engaged  in  felling  trees  in 
different  parts  of  the  township,  left  their  work  and  hur- 
ried to  the  point  where  the  expected  newcomers  would 
cross  the  township  line.  On  the  approach  of  the  party 
the  old  forest  rang  with  cheers  for  the  heroic  woman,  who 
was  the  first  white  woman  to  enter  the  new  township. 
These  men  of  rough  exterior  but  warm  hearts,  escorted 


32  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

her  to  the  little  cabin  by  the  brook  that  was  to  be  her 
home  for  the  first  few  years,  gallantly  removing  the 
obstacles  that  lay  in  her  pathway. 

It  is  doubtful  if  any  woman  has  since  been  conducted 
into  the  town  by  so  large  and  appreciative  an  escort. 

Mrs.  Garland's  ride  into  the  township  was  not  accom- 
plished without  an  accident,  which  was  fraught  with 
some  danger.  In  fording  one  of  the  streams  that  crossed 
her  pathway  the  horse  was  frightened  by  the  barking  of 
a  dog  and  she  was  jolted  from  her  saddle,  but  the  prompt 
assistance  of  a  man  who  was  walking  by  her  side  saved 
her  from  an  involuntary  bath. 

Mr.  Garland  and  his  wife,  with  their  three  small  chil- 
dren, were  the  first  family  to  establish  a  home  in  the 
present  town  of  Garland,  and  they  had  come  to  stay. 

The  date  of  their  coming  was  June  %%  1802.  To 
them  belongs  the  honor  of  giving  date  to  the  settlement 
of  the  town — nor  was  it  an  empty  honor  coming  to  them 
by  accident.  On  the  contrary,  it  came  as  the  result  of 
an  intelligent  purpose  to  establish  a  home,  where,  by 
honest  toil  they  could  secure  a  comfortable  living — a 
home  which  would  be  one  of  a  community  of  homes 
where  they  could  enjoy  the  social,  educational  and  relig- 
ious privileges,  which  are  so  highly  prized  by  the 
descendants  of  a  Puritan  ancestry. 

Mr.  Garland  and  his  family  were  now  face  to  face  with 
the  privations  and  hardships  of  a  life  in  the  wilderness, 
when  through  the  long  winter  which  followed  they  were 
the  sole  residents  of  the  township.  Their  rude  cabin 
afforded  very  imperfect  protection  from  wind,  rain  and 
snow.  A  large  stone  fire-place,  surrounded  with  a 
smoke  flue  of  sticks  and  clay,  was  made  to  do  service  for 
warming  and  cooking.  Their  furniture  was  of  the  most 
primitive  character.  In  place  of  chairs  they  used  blocks 
of   wood  of   suitable  size    and    height.      Their    cooking 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


utensils  were  limited  to  indispensable  articles.  Their 
surroundings  were  in  striking  contrast  with  those  they 
had  left  behind.  But  having  deliberately  determined  to 
establish  a  home  in  the  township  of  their  choice,  they 
cheerfully  accepted  the  changes  it  involved  and  looked 
hopefidly  towards  the  '  'better  time  coming. ' ' 


The  First  Fruit  Nursery 

Mr.  Garland  had  felled  ten  acres  of  trees  on  the  site 
of  the  present  residence  of  David  Dearborn.  Among 
his  earliest  acts  in  the  line  of  farming,  with  an  eye  to 
the  future  wants  of  the  township,  he  carefully  cleared  a 
half  acre  of  land  and  planted  it  with  apple  seeds  which 
he  had  brought  from  his  New  Hampshire  home.  The 
seeds  sprang  up  and  the  young  trees  grew  vigorously. 
Mr.  Garland  soon  found  himself  the  proprietor  of  a  val- 
uable nursery.  Some  of  our  older  citizens  have  distinct 
and  pleasant  remembrances  of  this  old  nursery.  Some 
of  the  stumps  of  the  trees  that  grew  in  it  are  still  to  be 
seen.  When  the  young  trees  had  reached  a  suitable  size, 
John  S.  Haskell  transplanted  a  small  orchard  from  this 
nursery,  and  eight  years  later  Mrs.  Haskell  made  pies 
from  the  fruit  of  it.  This  was  the  first  time  that  their 
children  had  indulged  in  the  luxury  of  an  apple  pie. 

Many  of  the  old  orchards  in  this  and  neighboring 
towns  were  planted  from  this  nursery.  In  the  absence 
of  roads  men  carried  trees  from  it  upon  their  shoulders 
many  miles,  guided  on  their  way  through  the  dense  for- 
est by  spotted  trees.  Enos  Flanders  of  Sangerville  car- 
ried twelve  trees  on  his  shoulders  through  the  woods  to 
his  home,  a  distance  of   twelve  miles.      Seth  Nelson  of 


34  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Guilford  obtained  trees  from  it  to  plant  his  first  orchard. 
Loring's  Histor}^  of  Piscataquis  County  is  authority  for 
saying  that  William  Farnham  of  Sangerville  brought 
young  apple  trees  from  Garland  upon  his  shoulders  and 
planted  the  first  orchard  in  town.  In  his  history  of 
Guilford  Mr.  Loring  says  that,  "As  nursery  trees  could 
not  be  obtained  nearer  than  Garland,  and  as  there  was 
no  summer  road  thither,  Deacon  Herring,  Captain 
Bennett  and  Nathaniel  Herring  brought  young  apple 
trees  from  that  place  upon  their  shoulders  fully  sixteen 
miles  and  set  out  the  first  three  orchards  in  town.  In 
about  eight  years  they  ate  fruit  from  them. ' ' 

Thus  the  thoughtful  consideration  of  Mr.  Garland  in 
planting  this  early  nursery  brought  to  many  of  the  set- 
tlers of  this,  and  neighboring  townships  at  an  early  date, 
a  luxury  more  generally  esteemed  and  highly  valued  than 
any  other  that  grows  from  New  England  soil. 

There  is  another  incident  of  interest  connected  with 
this  nursery.  In  the  year  1807  or  1808,  Moses  Gordon, 
who  had  become  a  resident  of  the  township  in  1805, 
visited  his  native  town,  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  making  the 
journey  on  horseback.  On  his  return  he  brought  scions 
from  an  apple  tree  in  the  orchard  of  a  Mr.  Flanders,  an 
old  neighbor,  which  were  ingrafted  upon  trees  in  Mr. 
Garland's  nursery.  The  fruit  from  these  scions  proved 
to  be  an  early  and  excellent  fall  apple  and  was  the  only 
ingrafted  fruit  in  this  town  for  many  years.  It  has 
always  been  known  here  as  the  Flanders  apple,  and  to 
Moses  Gordon  belongs  the  credit  of  its  introduction  to 
this  town. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  35 

Early  Buildings 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Garland  log-cabins  were 
few  and  far  between.  The  proprietors  of  the  town- 
ship caused  a  saw-mill  to  be  built  and  to  be  made 
ready  for  use  as  soon  as  houses  would  be  needed  by  incom- 
ing families. 

This  mill  was  placed  on  the  site  of  the  mill  now  occu- 
pied by  Edward  Washburn.  ITiere  was,  also,  a  saw-mill 
at  Elkinstown,  now  Dexter,  as  early  as  1803,  where  set- 
tlers in  the  west  and  northwest  part  of  the  township 
could  obtain  boards  to  cover  their  buildings.  Log  barns 
for  temporary  use  were  common,  but  the  first  framed 
barn  in  the  township  was  built  by  John  M.  Chase  in 
the  summer  of  180S,  on  lot  one  in  the  seventh  range. 
The  site  of  this  l)am  may  now  be  seen  on  the  farm  of 
the  late  Bradbury  G.  Atkins. 

The  first  framed  house  was  built  in  the  autumn  of 
1802  on  lot  five  in  the  seventh  range,  near  the  site  of 
the  present  residence  of  Charles  H.  Brown.  Joseph 
Treadwell,  the  grandfather  of  our  present  citizen,  Joseph 
C.  Treadwell,  built  this  house  for  John  Tyler.  Mr. 
Treadwell  came  from  his  home  in  Danville,  Maine,  on 
horseback,  bringing  his  tools  with  him.  He  cut  and 
hewed  the  timber  for  the  house,  hauled  it  with  his  horse, 
framed  it  and  superintended  the  subsecjuent  work  until  it 
was  ready  for  use.  An  old-fashioned  roof  with  double 
slope  covered  the  body  of  the  house.  Years  ago  this 
old  landmark  was  removed  by  John  L.  Jackman  to  give 
place  to  a  house  of  more  modem  style.  This  old  farm 
is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Charles  H.  Brown.  Some 
of  our  older  citizens  will  remember  with  pathetic  interest, 
the  taU,  spare,  pale,  patient  and  sorrowful  woman.  Aunt 
Susan  Tyler,  the  last  of  her  family,  who  lived  in  the 
quaint  old  house,  tenderly  caring  for  many  years  for  an 
imbecile  brother. 


36  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The    First  Saw-Mill 

There  was  nothing  more  essential  to  the  convenience 
and  well  being  of  the  new  settlements  in  eastern  Maine 
than  the  saw  and  grist-mill.  But  the  saw-mill  was  first 
in  the  order  of  importance.  The  early  settlers  could 
spin  their  flax,  their  cotton  and  their  wool  and  make 
their  cloth  at  home.  They  could  throw  their  bags  of 
corn  and  wheat  across  the  back  of  a  horse,  and  guided 
by  spotted  lines,  could  travel  considerable  distances  to 
get  their  milling  done  without  much  hardship. 

But  the  transportation  of  lumber  for  their  buildings 
through  a  wilderness  without  roads,  across  streams  with- 
out bridges  and  through  swamps  with  uncertain  depths 
of  mud,  involved  hardships. 

The  saw-mill  was  therefore  regarded  as  an  institution 
of  great  usefulness.  In  early  Colonial  times  it  was  pro- 
tected by  special  legislation  and  mill  owners  were 
regarded  with  marked  consideration.  In  1824  the  Legis- 
lature of  Maine  enacted  a  law  to  encourage  the  settle- 
ment of  townships  in  northern  Maine,  which  provided — 
"That  a  tract  of  land  not  exceeding  two  hundred  acres, 
together  with  the  best  mill  site  in  any  such  township, 
shall    be    reserved,   and    at  the  direction  of  the  Agent 

*  *     *     *     ^^j  ^g  given  to  any  person  or  persons  who 
shall    erect    the    first    saw-mill    and    grist-mill    thereon 

*  *     *     within  three  years  from   the  time  the  settle- 
ment shall  first  commence  in  such  township. ' ' 

It  is  not  strange  that  the  presence  of  a  saw-mill  in  the 
township  which  was  to  be  the  home  of  New  England 
families  was  regarded  with  great  satisfaction.  It  marked 
the  transition  from  the  log-cabin  to  the  house  of  greater 
convenience  and  more  attractive  exterior.  It  was  an 
index  of  the  progress  of  intelligence  and  refinement.      It 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  S7 

is  true  that  these  qualities  are  often  found  in  the  log- 
cabin,  but  like  caged  birds  they  fly  to  more  congenial 
conditions  at  first  opportunity. 

The  earliest  establishment  in  the  township — now  Gar- 
land— for  the  common  benefit  of  its  prospective  inhabi- 
tants was  a  saw-mill,  built  by  the  proprietors  on  the  site 
of  the  present  village  saw-mill.  The  necessary  mill  irons 
had  been  shipped  to  Bangor  in  1801. 


Story  of  the  Crank 

The  late  Deacon  John  S.  Haskell  often  related  for 
the  amusement  of  his  friends  the  following  story. 
Illustrating  different  phases  of  hardships  incident 
to  life  in  the  wilderness,  it  may  appropriately  be  retold. 
The  subject  of  the  story  was  not  one  of  those  human 
cranks  of  twisted  intellect  and  perverted  sensibilities. 
It  was  a  crank  of  a  different  type.  In  the  year  179^ 
the  proprietors  of  township  number  four  in  the  fifth 
range  of  townships  north  of  the  Waldo  Patent,  now 
Dexter,  employed  Samuel  Elkins  of  Comville,  Maine,  to 
build  a  saw-mill  in  that  township.  A  site  for  the  mill 
was  selected  near  the  outlet  of  the  beautiful  lake  whose 
waters  have  since  turned  the  wheels  that  have  made 
Dexter  one  of  the  largest  and  most  prosperous  villages 
in  the  State.  The  mill  irons  had  been  sent  to  the  site 
of  the  prospective  mill  for  use  when  needed.  Mr. 
Elkins  had  built  a  camp  for  the  accommodation  of  his 
workmen  and  made  other  preparations  to  prosecute  the 
work  of  building  the  mill,  but  before  much  progress 
had  been  made  he  died  and  the  work  was  suspended. 

Early  in  the  year  1801,  Moses  Hodsdon  of  Levant, 


B8  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

now  Kenduskeag,  had  built  a  mill  at  that  place  which 
had  been  used  only  a  short  time  when  the  mill  crank  was 
broken  and  the  work  was  suspended.  Several  families 
were  expected  in  the  coming  spring  who  were  depending 
upon  lumber  for  the  construction  of  their  cabins.  A 
mill  crank  to  replace  the  broken  one  could  be  obtained 
only  by  sending  to  Massachusetts.  The  Penobscot 
River  being  closed  to  navigation  b}-  ice  there  was  no  way 
of  getting  the  indispensable  crank  before  the  river  should 
be  clear  of  ice.      Mr.  Hodsdon  was  in  a  dilemma. 

At  this  juncture  an  old  hunter  by  the  name  of  Snow, 
who  frequented  the  new  settlements  in  this  section, 
appeared,  and  was  apprised  of  Mr.  Hodsdon' s  mis- 
fortune.     He  could  help  him  out. 

There  was  he  said  at  the  Elkins  place  in  "number 
four"  a  full  set  of  irons  not  in  use.  Mr.  Elkins,  who 
had  been  depended  on  to  build  the  mill  at  that  place,  had 
died  and  the  irons  would  lie  unused  for  months.  With 
his  large  hand  sled  made  to  haul  big  game  on,  he  could, 
with  help  of  his  big  sons,  haul  the  crank  belonging  to  the 
set  over  the  hard  crust  of  the  deep  snows  to  the  point 
where  it  was  needed.  Mr.  Hodsdon  could  get  and  use  it 
and  attend  to  the  incidental  matter  of  borrowing  later. 

Yielding  to  the  logic  of  necessity,  Mr.  Hodsdon  acted 
on  the  cranky  suggestions  of  the  old  hunter  and  made  a 
bargain  with  him  which  resulted  a  few  days  later  in  put- 
ting his  saw-mill  in  running  condition.  He  was  now 
able  to  furnish  lumber  to  enable  settlers  to  build  the 
cabins  necessary-  to  shelter  their  families. 

In  the  meantime  he  had  written  to  the  executor  of 
the  Elkins  estate  and  had  been  informed  when  the  crank 
would  be  wanted  at  the  Elkins  place.  In  the  autumn  of 
1802,  we  find  Mr.  Hodsdon,  who  seems  to  have  been  a 
sort  of  tutelary  guardian  of  the  settlements  of  this 
section,  under  contract  to  build  a  saw-mill  in  township 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  39 

number  three,  now  Garland.  The  irons  for  this  mill- 
had  been  shipped  to  Bangor  in  the  autumn  of  1801  and 
hauled  to  the  township  in  Febi-uary,  1802.  The  team 
that  hauled  these  irons  to  number  three,  hauled  the  bor- 
rowed crank  so  far  on  its  return  to  the  Elkins  place  in 
number  four. 

In  the  autumn  of  1802,  Mr.  Hodsdon  commenced 
building  the  mill  in  number  three  with  a  crew  embrac- 
ing several  men  who  had  been  making  beginnings  earlier 
in  the  season.  Among  the  latter  were  John  S.  Haskell 
and  Isaac  Wheeler,  Estj.  The  time  stipulated  for  the 
return  of  the  borrowed  crank  which  was  lying  passively 
near  the  mill  site  in  number  three  had  arrived.  Mr. 
Hodsdon  was  now  confronted  with  the  question  of  '  'ways 
and  means."  There  was  no  available  team  to  haul  it  to 
the  place  from  which  the  old  hunter  had  taken  it.  If 
there  had  been  a  team  at  hand  there  was  not  the 
semblance  of  a  road,  not  even  a  spotted  line  to  indicate 
the  way.  No  one  of  Mr.  Hodsdon 's  crew  had  ever  vis- 
ited number  five.  No  one  of  the  crew  knew  what  rugged 
hills  or  impassable  swamps  might  be  encountered  on  the 
way  to  the  objective  point. 

There  was,  however,  one  large  powerful  horse  at  hand. 
Tradition  says  he  was  owned  by  a  Mr.  Stevens  of  Blais- 
delltown  (Exeter),  but  there  was  neither  harness  nor 
vehicle.  The  old  proverb  that  ''necessity  is  the  mother 
of  invention"  was  illustrated  anew.  Mr.  Moses,  the 
master  carpenter,  made  a  wooden  frame  large  enough  for 
the  crank  to  rest  on,  which  could  be  securely  fastened  to 
the  back  and  shoulders  of  the  horse.  It  was  now  neces- 
sary to  have  a  line  spotted  from  the  west  line  of  number 
three  to  the  mill  site  in  number  four  to  guide  the  men 
who  were  charged  with  the  retuni  of  the  crank.  Just 
at  the  right  time  another  old  hunter  appeared.  His 
name  was  Peter  Brawn.      He  claimed  to  have  hunted  and 


40  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

trapped  game  over  the  whole  region  and  he  could  indi- 
cate the  easiest  route  to  the  mill  site  in  number  four  with 
certainty. 

Peter  was  shrewd  and  plausible.  Like  many  men  of 
the  present  time,  he  believed  that  places  of  trust  are 
instituted  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  fill  them.  He 
was  often  employed  to  indicate  the  most  feasible  route  of 
travel  between  two  places  separated  by  miles  of  forest, 
whose  inhabitants  desired  to  be  brought  into  neighborly 
relations.  Peter's  ruling  passion  was  hunting,  and  his 
work  of  a  more  public  character  was  made  to  contribute 
to  the  capture  of  game.  If  the  game  he  sought  bur- 
rowed in  the  highlands,  the  route  he  indicated  for  travel 
would  sometimes  lead  over  the  highest  hills.  If  he  was 
trapping  animals  whose  congenial  haunts  were  along  the 
borders  of  bogs,  swamps  and  ponds,  the  unfortunates  who 
followed  his  lines  were  very  liable  to  be  led  through  mud 
and  water.  But,  of  this  trait  of  the  plausible  Peter, 
the  party  hiring  him  was  ignorant.  He  was  therefore 
employed  to  make  a  safe  and  easy  route  to  the  mill  site 
in  number  four,  with  strict  injunctions  to  avoid  hills 
and  especially  muddy  places.  All  the  necessary  prepara- 
tions to  start  the  crank  anew  on  its  rounds  having  been 
completed,  John  S.  Haskell  and  Gideon  Haskell,  both 
stalwart  and  resolute  men,  were  detailed  to  return  the 
crank  to  the  place  where  its  wanderings  began.  The 
horse,  which  was  to  be  an  important  factor  in  this  impor- 
tant service,  was  placed  in  position  to  receive  the  load, 
the  saddle  was  carefully  adjusted,  the  wooden  frame  was 
placed  upon  the  horse  and  securely  fastened,  the  crank 
was  put  upon  the  frame  and  the  expedition  was  ready 
to  move. 

It  was  a  cloudy  and  dark  September  morning  and  the 
atmospheric  conditions  were  such  as  to  inspire  the  heart 
with   a    sort  of  indefinable  dread.      Prudence   dictated 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAIN£  41 

delay,  but  the  Haskells  were  accustomed  to  exposure  and 
hardship  and  could  bid  defiance  to  wind  and  rain.  They 
took  no  compass,  but  what  need  of  a  compass  when  the 
confident  Peter  would  make  the  way  so  plain  that  they 
could  not  miss  it !  They  started  from  the  site  of  the 
present  village  grist-mill,  and  moving  cautiously  north 
to  the  corner  near  the  site  of  the  present  Congregational 
meeting  house,  they  turned  their  faces  towards  the  west 
and  followed  the  line  of  the  present  county  road  leading 
to  Dexter  to  a  point  nearly  a  mile  beyond  the  west  line 
of  township  number  three.  Here  the  line  of  the  hunter, 
making  an  angle  towards  the  south,  led  them  down  a 
sharp  declivity  to  the  margin  of  an  impassable  bog  where 
it  terminated.  The  most  careful  inspection  failed  to 
indicate  a  continuation  of  the  line.  The  unwelcome 
conviction  was  forced  upon  the  Haskells  that  the  plausi- 
ble Peter  had  proved  false. 

And  now  a  series  of  performances  commenced  that 
were  not  down  on  the  program.  The  horse  that  had 
patiently  bom  his  heavy  load  thus  far  was  relieved  of  his 
burden  and  fed  upon  coarse  grass  that  grew  on  the  border 
of  the  bog.  The  Haskells  were  now  alive  to  the  gravity 
of  the  situation.  They  were  in  a  dense,  and  to  them, 
an  unknown  forest  without  compass  to  guide  them  and 
the  sun  was  still  obscure  by  threatening  clouds.  The 
larger  part  of  the  day  was  still  before  them,  which  they 
spent  in  eager  search  for  some  track  or  trail  that  would 
suggest  the  way  out,  but  in  vain.  After  fruitless 
wanderings,  continued  until  nightfall,  they  found  them- 
selves at  the  edge  of  an  opening  now  known  as  the 
Batchelder  Hill  in  Dexter,  but  were  ignorant  of  the  fact. 
They  hallooed  loud  and  long,  hoping  to  hear  an  answer- 
ing voice,  but  there  was  no  response. 

To  add  to  their  discomfort  it  began  to  rain  and  hav- 
ing done  all  they  could  do  until  the  light  of  the  morrow 


42  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

should  encourage  fresh  efforts,  they  camped  for  the 
night.  After  a  brief  time  spent  in  recounting  the  events 
of  the  day  and  invoking  imprecations  upon  the  head  of 
"old  Brawn,"  they  fell  asleep  and  slept  until  the  dawn 
of  a  new  morning.      It  was  still  raining. 

Hastily  eating  the  small  remnant  of  food  with  which 
they  had  supplied  themselves,  they  promptly  renewed 
their  efforts  to  extricate  themselves  from  the  uncertain- 
ties by  which  they  were  environed.  After  a  brief  search 
they  found  the  tracks  of  a  horse,  but  they  were  so  com- 
pletely bewildered  that  they  followed  the  trail  they  had 
struck  in  a  direction  opposite  from  that  intended,  pass- 
ing the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Artemas  Barton, 
and  a  small  cabin  that  had  just  been  built  by  William 
Mitchell  for  use  the  following  spring.  Following  the 
trail  a  little  farther  they  reached  an  opening  near  the  site 
of  the  residence  of  Horace  Jennings,  now  owned  by 
Seth  Bessey,  then  known  as  the  Severance  opening. 
Being  now  convinced  that  they  were  traveling  in  the 
wrong  direction  they  were  about  to  retrace  their  steps 
when,  unfortunately,  both  men  recalled  a  rumor  that  a 
line  plainly  marked  for  the  route  of  a  future  road  had 
been  run  from  New  Ohio  (Corinth)  to  the  mill  site  in 
number  four.  Eagerly  seizing  this  rumor  they  started 
in  a  southerly  direction  in  search  for  this  mythical  line. 
In  imagination  they  could  see  it  stretching  in  either 
direction  and  leading  to  a  place  of  safety  whichever  way 
it  was  followed.  The  search  was  continued  until  night 
but  the  line  which  they  saw  so  clearly  early  in  the  day 
had  vanished.  They  were  now  on  the  margin  of  an 
almost  impenetrable  swamp  in  the  present  town  of 
Corinna. 

Retracing  their  steps  to  drier  land,  they  prepared 
themselves  for  another  night  in  the  forest  with  nothing 
to   compensate   them    for    their   day's    wandering    save 


HlSl'ORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  43 

hunger,  weariness  and  uncertainty.  The  morning  of 
the  third  day  opened  with  the  same  di*eary  aspect  as  had 
those  of  the  two  preceding  days.  The  usual  welcome 
breakfast  was  omitted  on  account  of  the  absence  of  the 
materials  which  enter  into  that  meal. 

After  a  brief  and  earnest  consultation,  the  men  decided 
to  return  to  the  Severance  opening  and  follow  the  trail 
they  left  there  in  the  opposite  direction  from  what  they 
had  done  the  preceding  day.  This  movement  led  them 
to  the  Batchelder  opening  where  they  had  camped  at  the 
end  of  the  first  day's  wanderings.  A  mile  additional 
travel  brought  them  to  a  small  opening  hemmed  in  by 
hills  on  the  east  and  west. 

Through  the  center  of  the  opening  a  sti*eam  passed 
quite  rapidly.  In  a  corner  of  the  opening,  well  sheltered 
by  the  forest,  there  was  a  small  cabin  from  whose  chim- 
ney the  smoke  curled  gracefully  to  the  open  space  above 
the  tops  of  the  tall  trees.  To  their  great  joy  they  had 
at  last  found  the  mill  site  in  township  number  four. 
Their  joy  was  intensified  by  finding  that  the  little  cabin 
was  occupied  by  a  man  and  woman  whose  names  were 
Small — Ebenezer  Small  and  wife,  the  memory  of  whose 
names  is  still  cherished  by  the  loyal  citizens  of  Dexter 
with  affectionate  regard,  and  who  are  honored  as  having 
been  the  first  settlers  of  this  enterprising  town. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Small  were  greatly  surprised  by  the 
sudden  appearance  of  the  weather-beaten  strangers,  and 
with  a  woman's  intuition  the  latter  instantly  compre- 
hended their  most  pressing  immediate  requirements,  and 
in  the  shortest  possible  time  placed  before  them  a 
delicious  dish  of  pounded  corn,  boiled  in  milk. 

The  town  of  Dexter  has  long  been  noted  for  its 
hospitality  and  elaborate  entertainments,  but  her  citizens 
will  i*^ard  it  as  no  disparagement  should  it  be  said  that 
no  entertainment  within  its  limits  has  ever  been  proffered 


44  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

by  more  hospitable  hands,  or  accepted  with  a  keener 
sense  of  appreciative  gratitude  than  on  this  occasion. 
Dinner  finished,  the  first  thought  was  for  the  hungry 
horse  three  miles  away  by  the  margin  of  the  miry  bog. 
He  must  be  found  and  fed.  The  remaining  hours  of 
the  day  afforded  but  scant  time  for  this  service,  but  Mr. 
Small  being  acquainted  with  the  section  of  the  township 
between  the  mill  site  and  the  bog,  conducted  the  men  to 
the  spot  where  the  horse  was  tied. 

The  hungry  animal  greeted  the  coming  of  the  men 
with  expressions  of  satisfaction  that  seemed  almost 
human.  Not  being  in  condition  to  bear  his  load  to  its 
destination,  they  untied  him  and  started  on  their  return 
to  the  cabin  in  the  opening,  but  darkness  soon  enveloped 
them  and  seriously  impeded  their  progress.  As  they 
were  groping  slowly  and  doubtfully  along  the  resonant 
tones  of  the  old  tin  horn  reached  their  ears.  It  is  safe 
to  assume  that  no  music  of  orchestra  or  band  ever  gave 
greater  delight.  Anticipating  the  difficulty  they  would 
encounter  in  traveling  through  the  dense  forest  after 
nightfall,  Mrs.  Small  scaled  the  heights  of  the  hill  east 
of  the  present  village  and  guided  the  approaching  party 
along  by  vigorous  blasts  from  the  old  tin  horn. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  having  been 
recuperated  by  a  night's  rest  and  an  abundant  break- 
fast, accompanied  by  Mr.  Small  the  Haskells  returned  to 
the  spot  where  the  faithless  hunter  had  left  them  to  their 
wanderings.  The  crank  was  quickly  replaced  and  with 
a  man  to  lead  the  horse  and  one  on  each  side  to  steady 
the  crank,  they  reached  the  mill  site  about  midday. 
There  was  no  throng  of  people  to  welcome  the  arrival  of 
the  historic  crank,  but  it  is  easy  to  believe  that  the 
heroic  Mrs.  Small  regarded  it  with  lively  interest.  In 
her  loneliness  she  had  yearned  for  the  society  of  sympa- 
thetic friends  and  neighbors.      To  her,  the  rough,  rusty. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  45 

angular  and  unattractive  mass  of  iron  that  had  cost  so 
much  toil  and  hardship,  was  prophetic  of  the  time  when 
her  rude,  bark-covered  log-cabin  would  give  place  to  the 
dwelling  of  convenience  and  attractive  exterior.  It 
was  prophetic  of  other  homes  smiling  from  the  hill- 
sides— of  the  schoolhouse  filled  with  happy  children 
M'ho  were  in  training  for  intelligent  citizenship,  and  the 
church  where  devout  worshipers  gladly  assembled  on 
each  returning  Sabbath.  Mrs.  Small  lived  to  see  the 
fulfilment  of  her  dreams. 

The  borrowed  crank  having  been  returned  to  the 
mill  site  in  township  number  four,  the  Haskells, 
neither  of  whom  claimed  relationship  to  the  other, 
resumed  their  work  on  the  saw-mill  in  number  three. 
They  had  been  absent  four  days  in  getting  the  crank 
back  to  its  destination,  a  distance  of  less  than  seven 
miles.  But  the  hardships  they  had  encountered  did 
not  shield  them  from  the  jokes  and  pleasantries  of 
their  fellow- workmen.  Our  future  deacon,  John  S. 
Haskell,  received  them  with  his  accustomed  good  natured 
retorts  and  laughed  with  the  rest.  He  was,  moreover, 
a  man  of  great  physical  strength  and  it  would  not  have 
been  safe  to  push  the  spirit  of  raillery  to  the  verge  of 
insult. 

With  Gideon  Haskell  the  case  was  different.  He 
believed  that  the  hardships  of  the  late  expedition 
entitled  him  to  be  regarded  as  a  man  of  heroic  qualities. 
He  was  inclined  to  put  on  airs  and  assumed  to  be  the 
hero  of  the  expedition.  His  fellow- workmen  did  not 
allow  any  incident,  serious  or  comic,  out  of  which  fun 
and  frolic  could  be  evolved,  to  pass  unimproved.  Less 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  had  passed  since  the  country 
had  been  wrested  from  kingly  rule,  and  kingly  titles  were 
used  when  purposes  of  burlesque  were  to  be  subserved. 
Our  hero  was  dubbed  king,  and  was  addressed  as  King 


46  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Gideon  until  the  close  of  the  season's  work  in  the  town- 
ship. 


Raising  of  the  First  Saw- Mill 

The  carpentiy  upon  the  frame  of  the  saw-mill  was  now 
nearing  completion  and  the  day  for  the  raising  had  been 
appointed.  Men  from  surrounding  settlements  had  been 
invited.  On  the  night  preceding  the  eventful  day  they 
came  in  small  squads  from  different  points,  guided  by 
spotted  trees.  Camping  on  the  ground  through  the 
night  they  were  ready  for  work  in  the  morning.  While 
preparations  for  raising  were  going  on  frequent  mysteri- 
ous allusions  to  a  certain  mill-crank,  with  an  unusual 
history,  excited  the  curiosity  of  the  newcomers.  This 
was  followed  by  inquiry  and  the  inquirer  was  directed 
to  Gideon  Haskell  for  information.  To  each  man  who 
approached  him  to  hear  the  story,  he  repeated  with 
great  particularity  of  detail  the  account  of  the  three 
days'  wanderings  in  the  wilderness,  making  his  own  par- 
ticipation in  the  affair  a  prominent  feature  of  the 
account.  The  mill  was  raised  without  incident  worthy 
of  note.  An  event  of  such  importance  to  the  township 
could  not,  however,  be  allowed  to  pass  without  being 
appropriately  celebrated.  The  character  of  the  cele- 
bration had  been  determined  beforehand.  The  amuse- 
ments which  generally  followed  raising  of  mills,  barns 
and  other  large  buildings  in  those  days  were  omitted  on 
this  occasion  by  common  consent.  The  unwritten  pro- 
gram included  an  oration  to  the  King.  Daniel  Wilkins 
of  New  Charleston,  afterwards  a  prominent  citizen  of 
this  section,  was  the  orator.  The  sound  of  the  axe  that 
had  driven  the  last  pin  into  the  frame  of  the  mill  was 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  4r7 

the  signal  for  the  opening  of  ceremonies.  Loud  cries  of 
*'Long  live  King  Gideon"  now  filled  the  air.  At  a 
little  distance  from  the  mill  site,  at  the  edge  of  the 
opening,  there  was  a  large  tree  that  presented  a  remark- 
able angle  several  feet  from  the  ground,  which  afforded 
an  elevated  and  conspicuous  seat.  A  committee  of  stal- 
wart men  waited  upon  the  King  with  an  invitation  to 
occupy  the  seat  that  had  been  selected  for  the  occasion, 
who  accepted  the  honor  because  it  was  more  safe  to 
accept  than  to  decline.  Shouts  of  "Long  live  King 
Gideon"  were  now  renewed.  The  preliminaries  having 
been  concluded,  the  oration  to  the  king  was  announced. 
No  short-hand  writer  was  present  to  preserve  it  for  later 
generations,  but  a  few  of  the  opening  sentences  of  this 
unique  performance  have  been  handed  down : 

**Behold  King  Gideim  who  arose  early  in  the  morning, 
attended  by  his  servant.  Jack,  journeyed  over  the  high- 
way prepared  by  his  servant,  Peter,  the  hunter,  towards 
the  land  of  Ebenezer,  whose  surname  was  Small,  whither 
he  went  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his  people.  And  it 
came  to  pass  that  as  they  journeyed,  his  horse  being 
laden  with  the  royal  equipage,  they  came  to  a  great 
swamp  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness  where  the  royal 
highway  suddenly  terminated.  And  they  sought  for  its 
continuation  with  great  diligence  but  found  it  not,  and 
he  said — peradventure  my  unfaithful  servant,  Peter, 
has  gone  to  look  for  game  in  his  traps,  even  the  beaver 
and  the  otter  which  do  abound  in  this  great  wilderness, 
and  left  us  to  perish  in  our  wanderings.  Therefore  we 
will  seek  for  a  way  to  the  land  whither  we  are  traveling, 
even  the  land  of  Ebenezer.  And  they  tied  the  horse  to 
a  tree  and  fed  him  upon  the  coarse  grass  that  grew  upon 
the  borders  of  the  great  swamp.  And  for  the  space  of 
three  days  and  three  nights  they  sought  diligently  for 
the  way  to  the  land  of  Ebenezer. ' ' 


48  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  orator  proceeded  with  mock  dignity  to  give  a 
circumstantial  account  of  the  journey,  which  was 
received  with  uproarious  laughter  and  applause. 

The  "oration"  ended,  the  old  forests  rang  again  with 
cries  and  shouts  such  as  had  never  been  heard,  and  per- 
haps never  will  be  heard  within  the  limits  of  the  town. 
Aided  by  the  inspiration  of  the  favorite  New  England 
beverage  of  the  times,  these  excited  men  kept  up  the 
frolic  so  boisterously  begun,  through  the  entire  night. 
Early  the  next  morning,  starting  on  their  way  home, 
their  stalwart  forms  soon  disappeared  in  the  shadows  of 
the  forest. 

Our  late,  well  remembered  citizen,  Isaac  Wheeler, 
Esq.,  was  present  at  the  raising  of  the  mill.  He  held 
a  commission  of  justice  of  the  peace  which  he  brought 
with  him  from  Massachusetts.  Believing  that  his  official 
dignity  would  be  compromised  by  remaining  with  his 
boisterous  associates,  he  quietly  withdrew  to  his  camp, 
which  was  located  near  the  site  of  the  present  Baptist 
church. 

Alluding  occasionally  to  the  boisterous  scenes  of  the 
night  of  the  raising,  he  related  that  soon  after  his  with- 
drawal he  was  missed  by  the  crowd,  whereupon  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  wait  on  him  and  request  his 
attendance.  He  was  enjoying  his  first  nap  when  he  was 
suddenly  aroused  by  a  violent  rapping  at  his  door.  He 
sprang  from  his  couch  and,  presenting  himself  at  the 
door,  demanded  to  know  the  business  of  the  intruders. 
He  was  informed  that  his  presence  at  the  mill  was 
requested.  Refusing  to  comply,  the  committee 
attempted  to  enforce  compliance,  but  he  resisted  with 
such  resolution  they  deemed  it  prudent  to  return  to  the 
mill  without  his  company.  One  of  the  intruders  man- 
aged, during  the  parley  at  the  door,  to  thrust  a  blazing 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  49 

brand  through  an  opening  in  the  camp  and  set  his 
straw  bed  on  fire. 

Gideon  Haskell  could  neither  forget  nor  forgive  the 
rough  treatment  he  had  received  at  the  hands  of  his 
fellow  workmen  and  when  the  season's  work  was  com- 
pleted, he  left  the  township  never  to  return. 

Deacon  John  S.  Haskell  often  related  with  great  ani- 
mation in  his  later  years  stories  of  pioneer  life  for  the 
amusement  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  Among  these 
was  the  story  of  the  mill-crank,  at  the  close  of  which  an 
expression  of  seriousness  would  rest  upon  his  venerable 
features  for  a  moment,  when  he  would  explain  in  tones 
at  once  regretful  and  apologetic,  "Well  we  did  have 
some  pretty  high  times  in  those  days. ' ' 

In  September,  1802,  while  the  building  of  the  mill  was 
in  progress,  Moses  Gordon  and  John  and  Jonathan 
Jones  of  Hopkinton,  N.  H. ,  visited  the  township.  ITiis 
was  Mr.  Gordon's  first  visit.  He  came  to  inspect  the 
lands  of  the  township,  and  although  he  made  no  selec- 
tion at  this  time,  he  returned  home  with  a  favorable 
impression  of  the  quality  of  its  lands  and  its  eligibility 
for  settling  purposes.  The  Messrs.  Jones  afterward 
settled  in  Ripley  where  they  became  prominent  citizens. 

The  building  of  the  saw-mill  was  the  close  of  active 
operations  in  the  township  in  1802.  Including  the 
beginning  made  by  Josiah  Bartlett  in  1801,  nineteen 
openings  had  been  made  on  as  many  different  lots,  one 
family  had  been  established,  a  house  built  for  another 
family,  and  a  saw-mill  had  been  constructed. 


The  First  Winter  in  the  Township 

In  the  winter  of  1802-3  the  only  family  in  the  town- 
ship was  that  of  Joseph  Garland,  embracing  himself,  his 


50  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

wife  and  three  children,  the  eldest  being  scarcely  five 
years  old.  The  names  of  the  children  were  Orenda, 
Timothy,  Kilby  and  Minerva.  It  would  be  interesting 
to  know  more  of  the  every-day  life  of  that  little  family 
which  was  left  to  solitude  and  snow  through  that  long  cold 
winter  than  tradition  has  handed  down.  The  days  of  the 
preceding  summer  had  been  cheered  by  the  presence  in  the 
township  of  those  kind-hearted  men  who  had  left  their 
work  to  welcome  the  coming  of  the  family  and  escort  its 
members  to  the  little  cabin  in  the  forest.  The  courageous 
bearing  of  Mrs.  Garland  had  won  their  admiration  and 
she  could  always  afterwards  count  them  among  her 
friends,  but  they  had  now  completed  their  season's  work 
and  retired  from  the  township. 

The  last  blow  had  been  struck  upon  the  saw-mill,  and 
the  echoes  of  the  ringing  laugh  and  cheerful  voices  of 
the  workmen  had  ceased. 

Left  alone  in  the  wilderness  it  is  very  easy  to  imagine 
that  a  feeling  of  loneliness  rested  upon  this  solitary 
home.  If  now,  discouragement  and  discontent  had  con- 
stituted the  leading  elements  in  the  experience  of  each 
day,  it  would  excite  no  surprise  in  the  mind  of  the 
reader.  To  add  to  the  loneliness  of  the  situation,  Mr. 
Garland  was  obliged  to  be  away  from  home  several  weeks 
on  business,  leaving  his  brother  Jacob,  a  bo}^  of  sixteen 
years,  to  take  his  place  in  the  family.  Accident,  sick- 
ness or  even  death  might  visit  the  snow-bound  house- 
hold. 

But  neither  discouragement,  discontent  nor  fear  of 
misfortune  that  might  happen  found  place  therein. 

Mrs.  Garland  was  loyal  to  the  interests  of  her  husband 
and  children.  She  entertained  the  conviction  that  faith- 
ful care  of  her  family  and  the  instruction  of  her  children 
were  the  most  important  of  woman's  duties.  This  con- 
viction called  out  the  heroic  elements  of  her  character 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  51 

and  raised  her  to  the  level  of  her  responsibilities.  Her 
fortitude  was  sometimes  severely  taxed  by  the  discom- 
forts of  her  situation  but  she  met  them  bravely. 

Spring  came  at  length  and  brought  not  only  sunshine 
and  warmth,  but  neighbors  and  companionship,  if 
indeed  people  whose  habitations  were  separated  by 
several  miles  of  dense  forest  could  be  regarded  as  neigh- 
bors and  companions.  In  the  month  of  March,  1803, 
Wm.  Mitchell  moved  his  family  from  Athens,  Maine, 
into  township  number  four,  now  Dexter,  and  took  up  his 
abode  in  the  cabin  he  had  built  the  preceding  autumn. 
ITie  distance  between  the  houses  of  the  two  families  was 
about  three  miles.  An  acquaintance  sprang  up  between 
them  which  soon  ripened  into  intimacy.  In  their  inter- 
change of  visits  the  women  of  these  families  generally 
rode  on  horseback  guided  on  their  way  by  spotted  lines. 
Mrs.  Mitchell  was  a  woman  of  resolution.  When  she 
could  not  have  the  use  of  a  horse,  she  cheerfully  made 
the  distance  on  foot.  Reared  under  the  influences  of 
the  same  religious  creed,  the  two  women  passed  many  a 
pleasant  day  together.  The  late  Mrs.  N.  P.  Smith,  a 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Mitchell,  and  for  many  years  a  resident 
of  Garland,  credits  Mrs.  Garland  with  the  declaration 
that  she  had  never  spent  a  happier  season  than  her  first 
winter  in  the  forest  of  the  new  township  with  her  little 
family. 

In  her  seclusion  she  sought  the  companionship  of  her 
Bible  and  other  good  books  which  proved  the  beginning 
of  a  new  religious  experience,  the  memory  of  which  in 
subsequent  years  was  a  perpetual  source  of  satisfaction. 


5%  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Township  No.   3  in  1803 

The  Garland  family  was  cheered  and  encouraged  by 
the  arrival  of  several  families  in  180S.  Early  in  the 
spring  of  this  year,  John  Tyler  from  New  Gloucester, 
Maine,  moved  into  the  house  that  Joseph  Treadwell  had 
built  for  him  the  preceding  year. 

Mr.  Treadwell  and  his  family,  from  Danville,  Maine, 
soon  followed  and  occupied  a  part  of  Mr.  Tyler's  house. 
This  quaint  old  house  was  torn  down  years  ago  to  give 
place  to  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Charles 
H.  Brown. 

The  Tyler  and  Treadwell  families  were  connected  by 
marriage. 

John  M.  Chase  built  and  moved  into  a  house  on  lot 
one,  range  seven,  where  he  had  made  an  opening  the 
preceding  year.  The  site  of  his  buildings  was  near  the 
residence  of  the  late  Bradbury  G.  Atkins.  The  coming 
of  the  family  of  Benjamin  Gilpatrick  was  probably  in 
1803,  although  it  might  have  been  a  year  later. 

Justus  Harriman  moved  his  family  into  the  township 
in  1803  and  established  a  home  on  lot  nine,  range  nine, 
where  he  made  his  beginning  a  year  earlier.  He  emi- 
grated from  Salisbury,  N.  H. 

John  Grant  from  Berwick,  Maine,  having  purchased 
the  saw-mill  built  by  Moses  Hodsdon  the  previous  year, 
together  with  the  lot  upon  which  it  stood,  emigrated  to 
the  township  in  1803  with  his  family,  embracing  his 
wife,  three  sons,  who  had  grown  to  manhood,  and  two 
daughters.  William  Godwin  came  to  the  township  in 
1803  and  purchased  100  acres  of  land  of  David  A.  Gove 
on  lot  eight,  range  five,  where  he  made  a  beginning  and 
afterwards  established  a  home. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  53 

An  Early  Name 

Since  the  beginning  in  1802  the  township  had  been 
known  as  township  number  three  in  the  fifth  range.  Its 
settlement  had  been  begun  and  its  continued  existence 
seemed  assured.  It  was  quite  natural  that  the  inhabi- 
tants should  desire  a  more  simple  and  convenient  name. 
It  was  desirable,  also,  that  the  name  should  have  some 
historical  significance. 

As  it  was  a  township  of  flattering  prospects,  any  one 
of  its  proprietors  would  have  felt  honored  by  having  his 
name  associated  with  its  future  history  as  one  of  its 
founders.  One  of  its  proprietors,  in  addition  to  personal 
merit  and  prominence,  bore  a  name  that  stood  high  in 
the  list  of  honored  names  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts.  This  was  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  after- 
wards governor  of  his  state,  and  by  common  consent  the 
township  was  called  Lincolntown  until  its  incorporation 
in  1811. 


Old  Names 

The  township  lying  next  north  of  Lincolntown,  now 
Dover,  was  still  designated  by  number  and  range.  The 
township  west  of  it,  now  Dexter,  was  called  Elkinstown 
from  Samuel  and  John  Elkins,  who  built  the  first  mills 
there.  The  township  on  the  south,  now  Exeter,  was 
called  Blaisdelltown  from  Dr.  John  Blaisdell,  who  had 
aided  its  settlement.  On  the  east  was  New  Charleston, 
now  Charleston. 

The    early    names  of    this    community  of   townships 


54  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

strike  the  ear  strangely  now.      Nevertheless  they  are  a 
part  of  the  history  of  the  times. 


In  Quest  of  Food 

Corn  bread  and  salt  pork  were  the  staple  articles  of 
food  of  the  early  settlers  of  Garland.  This  unwritten 
bill  of  fare  was  sometimes  varied  by  fish  taken  from  the 
streams  which  threaded  the  township,  and  wild  game 
captured  in  the  forest. 

After  a  year's  residence  in  the  township,  the  pioneer 
could  raise  the  corn  needed  for  his  family,  but  not  much 
pork  was  produced  for  several  years. 

In  the  autumn  of  1803,  John  S.  Haskell  was  board- 
ing in  the  family  of  John  Tyler.  On  a  certain  day  Mrs. 
Tyler  had  raised  the  last  piece  of  pork  from  the  bottom 
of  the  barrel.  She  cut  this  into  halves,  one  of  which 
fell  back  into  the  brine  with  a  splash,  which  if  not 
"solemn,"  was  sadly  suggestive  that  the  supply  was 
running  short.  It  was  plain  that  a  fresh  supply  must 
be  obtained  or  the  bill  of  fare  curtailed.  The  latter 
alternative  could  not  be  submitted  to  if  possible  to  avoid 
it.  But  a  fresh  supply  would  require  a  journey  through 
the  woods  to  Bangor  on  horseback,  a  distance  of  twenty- 
five  miles,  coupled  with  the  uncertainty  of  finding  it  in 
that  place.  The  case  was  urgent  and  Mr.  Haskell  volun- 
teered to  make  the  journey. 

Knowing  that  his  friend,  Isaac  Wheeler,  had  a  quan- 
tity of  the  coveted  article  stored  at  Levant,  now  Ken- 
duskeag,  for  future  use,  he  took  the  wise  precaution  of 
obtaining  his  consent  to  take  a  stipulated  quantity  of  it 
in  case  the  journey  to  Bangor  should    prove  fruitless. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  55 

Reaching  the  latter  place  in  due  time,  he  could  find  the 
article  he  was  in  quest  of  only  in  one  place,  and  that  was 
of  the  quality  that  the  historic  Jack  Spratt  is  alleged  to 
have  had  a  preference  for.  Mr.  Haskell  ventured  the 
suggestion  that  the  price  seemed  high  for  the  quality  of 
the  meat.  The  merchant  replied,  "It  is  as  cheap  as  it 
can  be  afforded — take  it  or  leave  it. "  Quietly  accepting 
the  alternative  so  curtly  offered,  he  cast  a  lingering  look 
at  the  barrel  whose  contents  he  had  come  so  far  to 
inspect,  and  bidding  the  proprietor  a  respectful  good- 
bye, started  on  his  return  home.  Reaching  Levant  he 
took  from  Esquire  Wheeler's  barrel  the  quantity  stipu- 
lated for  and  resumed  his  journey  homeward. 

At  New  Ohio  (now  Corinth)  he  met  the  old  hunter, 
Snow,  who  two  years  earlier  had  opportunely  helped 
Moses  Hodsdon  to  the  historic  mill  crank,  to  take  the 
place  of  the  one  which  had  been  unfortunately  broken. 
Mr.  Snow  had  just  killed  and  dressed  a  large  and  very 
fat  bear.  In  those  days  there  were  more  bears  than 
people  who  relished  the  flesh  of  that  animal.  It  had, 
therefore,  no  marketable  value,  and  the  old  hunter  gave 
Mr.  Haskell  as  much  of  it  as  he  could  conveniently  carry. 
Greatly  elated  at  his  good  fortune,  Mr.  Haskell  resumed 
his  journey.  On  reaching  home  he  informed  his  friends, 
who  were  impatiently  awaiting  his  return,  that  he  had 
brought  with  him  "a  good  lot  of  excellent  meat,  both 
fresh  and  salted. ' ' 

It  was  now  supper  time  and  for  obvious  reasons  the 
members  of  the  family  were  unanimous  in  their  desire  to 
sit  down  to  a  square  meal  of  fresh  meat.  A  frying-pan 
of  good  size  was  forthwith  placed  upon  the  glowing  coals 
and  filled  with  generous  slices.  It  was  soon  cooked  and 
placed  upon  the  table  and  supplemented  by  such  other 
articles  as  their  limited  supplies  afforded,  it  presented  an 
inviting  repast.      Joseph  Treadwell  and  family  who  lived 


56  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

under  the  same  roof  were  invited  to  the  feast.  Gathered 
around  the  table  they  partook  of  the  supper  with  unmis- 
takable satisfaction,  the  fresh  meat  being  greatly 
relished.  Mr.  Haskell  was  warmly  congratulated  upon 
his  success  as  caterer.  And  now  comes  the  denoue- 
ment. With  a  mischievous  twinkle  of  the  eye,  the 
caterer  quietly  informed  the  company  that  the  meat  they 
had  eaten  was  not  pork  as  they  had  supposed,  but  the 
flesh  of  a  bear.  A  Frenchman  would  say  that  a  person 
can  learn  to  eat  almost  anything  if  he  will  only  try. 
The  trouble  in  this  case  was,  that  those  who  had  so 
highly  enjoyed  the  entertainment  had  not  been  used  to 
eating  the  flesh  of  a  bear,  and  French  philosophy  did  not 
save  them  from  the  consequences  of  having  eaten  the 
kind  of  food,  the  name  of  which  as  food  had  a  most 
unsavory  sound.  The  women  of  the  party  suddenly 
exhibiting  unmistakable  indications  of  repugnance,  the 
caterer  wickedly  indulged  in  one  of  his  heartiest  laughs. 
But  the  tables  were  soon  turned.  Brooms  were  plenty 
in  those  days  because  the  women  could  make  brooms. 
A  small  sapling  of  the  requisite  length  and  size,  a  little 
bunch  of  flaky  boughs  of  hemlock  or  cedar  placed  in 
layers,  a  strong  flaxen  string  twisted  on  the  spindle  of 
the  old  wheel  in  the  corner,  constituted  all  the  necessary 
materials.  The  stems  of  the  boughs  were  tightly  tied 
to  the  handle  and  the  broom  was  ready  for  use.  But 
then,  as  now,  brooms  were  not  used  exclusively  for 
sweeping  floors.  When  those  women  had  partially 
recovered  from  their  recent  upheaval,  they  instinctively 
seized  the  brooms  that  stood  in  the  corners  and  made  a 
sudden  and  resolute  attack  upon  our  future  deacon,  who, 
deeming  "discretion  the  better  part  of  valor"  made  a 
hasty  retreat  into  the  shadows  of  the  forest.  Now  the 
laugh  was  fairly  turned,  illustrating  the  old  proverb  that 
"he  laughs  best  who  laughs  last." 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  57 


Lincolntown   in  1804 

So  far  as  is  known  only  two  families  established  homes 
in  the  township  in  1804.  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  then 
recently  married,  commenced  housekeeping  in  the  log- 
cabin  he  had  built  two  years  earlier  near  the  site  of  the 
present  Free  Baptist  meeting  house.  Later  in  the  same 
season  he  built  a  comfortable  frame  house  on  the  site  of 
the  house  afterwards  owned  by  the  late  William  B. 
Foss. 

James  McClure  having  purchased  Edward  Sargent's 
interest  in  lot  three,  range  five,  moved  his  family  into  a 
cabin  that  stood  near  the  site  of  the  present  house  of 
Samuel  O.  Davis.  Peter  Chase,  who  made  a  beginning 
on  lot  seven,  range  nine,  two  years  earlier,  cleared  a  piece 
of  land  in  1804,  raised  a  crop  and  built  a  house.  Moses 
Smith  bought  Thomas  Finson's  interest  in  lot  six,  range 
nine,  in  1804,  and  made  preparation  for  a  future  home. 
William  Godwin  came  to  the  township  again  this  year 
and  enlarged  the  opening  begun  the  preceding  year. 

James  Holbrook,  a  brother-in-law  of  Isaac  Wheeler, 
purchased  the  M'esterly  part  of  lot  eight,  range  five,  of 
Mr.  Godwin  and  felled  an  opening  there.  Years  later 
this  lot  passed  into  the  hands  of  Benjamin  Garland,  who 
lived  there  several  years. 

Amos  Gordon  of  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  made  his  first 
visit  to  Lincolntown  in  June,  1804,  and  purchased  of 
Joseph  Garland  a  part  of  lot  nine,  range  ten,  paying 
four  dollars  an  acre  for  it.  This  was  a  large  price  for 
land  at  that  time,  but  it  occupied  an  eligible  site — was 
of  excellent  quality  and  situated  in  the  part  of  the  town- 
ship that  was  attracting  more  emigrants  than  any  other 
at  that  time.  Amos  Gordon  was  the  grandfather  of  our 
well-known   citizens,    Horace  H.,   James  P.  and  Albert 


58  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

G.  Gordon.  Mr.  Gordon  performed  this  journey  on 
horseback  by  the  way  of  Kennebec  to  Ripley,  where  he 
had  acquaintances,  and  thence  to  Lincolntown.  After 
having  selected  and  purchased  the  land  of  his  future 
home  he  returned  to  New  Hampshire  to  prepare  for  a 
change  of  residence.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he 
revisited  the  township,  cleared  land  and  built  a  log  house 
for  the  reception  of  his  family  the  following  spring. 

About  the  time  he  started  on  his  second  visit  to  the 
township,  which  was  on  horseback,  five  men  of  his 
acquaintance  went  to  Massachusetts  to  take  passage  in 
a  sailing  vessel  for  the  same  destination.  These  were 
his  son,  Moses  Gordon,  Jeremiah  Flanders,  Sampson 
Silver,  Caleb  Currier  of  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  and  Edward 
Fifield  of  Ware  of  the  same  state.  Arriving  at  New- 
buryport  they  were  much  disappointed  at  not  finding  the 
vessel  in  which  they  had  engaged  a  passage.  Waiting 
several  days  the}^  became  impatient  of  the  delay  and 
took  passage  on  a  rude  fishing- smack  that  had  just  dis- 
charged a  cargo  of  wood  and  was  about  to  start  on  the 
return  voyage  to  the  Penobscot.  They  took  on  board 
with  them  a  pair  of  oxen  and  an  ox-wagon  belonging  to 
Moses  Gordon,  a  ihorse  owned  by  Mr.  Fifield,  supplies 
for  themselves  and  tools  for  their  work. 

These  men  started  on  their  journey  for  the  double 
purpose  of  inspecting  the  lands  of  the  township  and  of 
assisting  Amos  Gordon  in  building  his  house  and  pre- 
paring land  for  crops  of  the  following  spring.  With 
the  exception  of  Mr.  Currier  they  all  became  residents 
of  the  township  a  few  years  later. 


HISTORY    OF    GAKLAXD,     MAINE  59 


In  Peril  of  Shipwreck 

Weighing  anchor,  two  fruitless  attempts  were  made 
to  get  out  of  the  harbor.  The  third  attempt  was  suc- 
cessful. The  vessel  had  scarcely  got  out  to  sea  before 
these  men  discovered  to  their  dismay  that  they  were  in 
an  unseaworthy  vessel,  commanded  by  a  drunken  captain 
and  manned  by  an  incompetent  crew.  A  violent  storm 
soon  arose,  intensifying  their  anxiety.  After  hours  of 
weary  watching  and  hard  work  at  the  pumps  by  turns, 
the  vessel  entered  Town  send  harbor.  Here  they  found 
several  vessels  that  had  sought  shelter  from  the  fury  of 
the  storm,  among  which  was  a  vessel  bound  to  Frank- 
fort. Not  desirous  of  continuing  their  acquaintance 
with  the  captain  and  crew  with  whom  they  first  sailed, 
they  transferred  their  effects  to  the  Frankfort  vessel  and 
took  passage  in  her.  Arriving  safely  at  Frankfort  in 
due  time  the  oxen,  horses  and  ox-wagon  were  landed. 
Mr.  Fifield  proceeded  directly  to  the  township  and 
arranged  with  Joseph  Garland  and  John  Grant,  who 
now  owned  the  mill  built  two  years  earlier,  to  send  a 
paiv  of  oxen  each  to  help  the  incoming  emigrants  along. 
The  supplies  and  tools  were  transferred  to  the  boat 
belonging  to  the  vessel  and  under  direction  of  the  mate, 
Messrs.  Flanders,  Silver  and  Currier  brought  them  safely 
to  Bangor. 


From  Frankfort  to  the  Township 

The  oxen,  as  soon  as  they  were  in  condition  to  begin 
their  overland  journey,  were  hitched  to  the  wagon  and 
driven  to  Bangor  by  Moses  Gordon.      Here  the  tools  and 


60  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

supplies  were  transferred  from  the  boat  to  the  wagon. 
A  Mr.  Hasey  of  Levant,  who  was  in  Bangor  at  the  time 
with  an  ox-team,  assisted  Mr.  Gordon  to  haul  his  load 
to  the  elevated  land  away  from  the  river.  The  party 
passed  the  night  at  the  Campbell  place  in  Bangor.  The 
next  morning  Mr.  Campbell  helped  them  to  the  north 
line  of  Bangor  with  his  team,  where  they  met  Mr. 
Fifield  with  Joseph  Garland's  oxen.  The  team  now 
moved  slowly  forward,  crossing  the  clayey  bed  of  the 
unbridged  Kenduskeag  at  the  foot  of  a  long  declivity, 
now  known  as  the  Jameson  Hill,  without  accident. 

The  party  reached  Levant,  now  Kenduskeag,  at  night- 
fall, where  they  tarried  until  morning  with  Major  Moses 
Hodsdon.  From  this  point  to  Lincolntown,  a  distance 
of  fourteen  miles,  a  sled  road  had  been  bushed  out  to 
what  is  now  known  as  West  Corinth,  thence  to  the  Simon 
Prescott  place  in  the  northwest  corner  of  New  Ohio 
(Corinth),  thence  to  the  mill  in  Lincolntown  (Garland). 
The  old  county  road  from  Garland  to  Bangor,  estab- 
lished about  a  dozen  years  later,  followed  very  nearly  the 
route  of  the  sled  road  which  has  been  described.  Our 
party  of  emigrants  took  an  early  breakfast  and  an  early 
start  from  the  hospitable  home  of  Major  Hodsdon  with 
the  determination  to  reach  their  destination  before 
indulging  in  another  night's  sleep.  They  had  fourteen 
miles  to  travel  over  a  way  which  no  wheeled  carriage  had 
ever  passed,  but  they  had  a  strong,  although  slow  mov- 
ing team.  They  had,  also,  three  or  four  stalwart,  reso- 
lute men,  armed  with  axes  and  handspikes,  to  precede 
the  team  and  widen  the  way  for  the  passage  of  the 
wagon.  Three  miles  on  their  way  they  met  Landeras 
Grant  from  Lincolntown  with  another  yoke  of  oxen  to 
aid  in  hauling  the  load.  Their  progress  was  slow  and 
night  overtook  them  four  miles  short  of  their  objective 
point.      It    was  now  raining  and  very    dark,   but    they 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  61 

moveii  on  without  serious  interruption  until  they  reached 
the  swamp  about  one  mile  south  of  the  present  village 
of  Garland.  Here  the  wheels  sunk  into  the  mud  to  the 
hubs  and  it  was  so  dark  that  the  axemen  were  unable  to 
see  the  obstacles  that  were  in  the  way.  Fortunately  the 
way  was  now  wide  enough  to  admit  of  the  passage  of 
the  wagon  if  the  numerous  sharp  angles  could  be 
avoided.  Landeras  Grant  was  the  man  for  the  occa- 
sion. He  w£is  familiar  with  every  part  of  the  way  and 
knew  every  angle — seemed  to  know  it  instinctively — 
and  could  indicate  it  as  well  in  the  darkness  of  night  as 
in  the  light  of  day.  With  Landeras  to  pilot  them  they 
were  sure  to  get  safely  through.  He  therefore  took 
charge  of  the  expedition,  and  obeying  his  commands,  the 
teamsters  "hawed  and  geed"  and  floundered  through 
the  swamp.  The  party  was  now  near  the  end  of  its 
journey  and  an  hour  later  it  was  comfortably  quartered 
in  John  Grant's  camp  near  the  mill  in  Lincolntown. 
Before  retiring  to  rest  the  members  of  the  party  gave  to 
the  mirey  swamp  which  had  so  seriously  retarded  their 
progress  the  name  of  "The  Lake,"  which  it  retained 
many  years.  In  1814,  the  town  of  Garland  voted  to 
lay  out  a  road  from  "The  Lake,  so  called,  to  Exeter 
line." 

After  a  brief  rest  the  men  of  this  party  repaired  to 
lot  nine,  range  ten,  the  site  of  the  present  home  of  D. 
B.  McComb,  and  commenced  building  a  cabin  for  the 
reception,  in  the  following  spring,  of  Amos  Gordon's 
family.  At  the  completion  of  this  job  a  piece  of  land 
was  cleared  for  raising  a  crop  the  following  year.  The 
men  then  repaired  to  lot  eleven,  range  three,  the  site  of 
the  present  home  of  Joel  W.  Otis.  This  lot  and  lot 
number  ten  in  the  same  range  had  been  purchased  by 
Edward  Fifield.  On  lot  number  eleven  a  piece  of  trees 
had    been  felled  and  the  ground    burned  over.      When 


62  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

or  by  whom  the  opening  had  been  made  tradition  does 
not  inform  us.  Being  remote  from  other  beginnings,  it 
probably  had  been  made  without  attracting  the  attention 
of  other  settlers  and  quietly  abandoned.  But  the 
question  as  to  who  had  made  this  beginning  did  not 
trouble  Mr.  Fifield.  His  own  title  being  satisfactory, 
his  immediate  purpose  was  to  clear  the  land  for  a  crop 
the  following  year,  which  by  the  help  of  his  companions 
was  soon  accomplished.  Late  in  autumn  the  Gordons, 
Mr.  Fifield  and  their  companions  returned  to  New 
Hampshire  to  prepare  for  the  renewal  of  their  efforts  to 
wrest  homes  from  the  unwilling  wilderness. 


Early  Births  in  the  Township 

It  has  been  said  that  children  are  among  the  earliest 
productions  of  a  new  colony.  Whether  this  is  true  as 
a  general  proposition  or  not,  it  was  true  of  the  settle- 
ment at  Lincoln  town  as  facts  will  show.  There  is  a 
tradition  that  in  the  year  1803,  the  second  year  of  the 
settlement,  a  son  was  added  to  the  household  of  John 
and  Agnes  Grant  Knight.  If  the  fact  is  in  harmony 
with  the  tradition,  this  was  the  first  birth  in  the  new 
township.  There  are  records  to  show  that  in  1804,  the 
third  year  of  the  settlement,  there  were  four  births  in  the 
township.  On  the  24th  of  January,  1804,  there  was 
born  to  Miriam  Chase,  wife  of  John  M.  Chase,  a  daugh- 
ter, Polly  Chase.  To  the  family  of  Joseph  and 
Zeruiah  Garland,  there  was  the  addition  of  a  daughter, 
Zeruiah  Garland,  born  February  3,  1804.  To  the 
family  of  Justus  and  Miriam  Harriman  there  was  the 
addition  of  a  son,  Manoah  Harriman,  born  May  14th, 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  63 

1804,  and  to  the  family  of  Isaac  and  Betsey  Murray 
Wheeler,  there  was  the  addition  of  a  son,  Reuben 
Wheeler,  born  September  20th,  1804.  These  records 
were  copied  from  family  records  and  entered  upon  the 
records  of  the  town  after  its  incorporation  in  1811. 


Lincolntown  in  1805 

A  resident  of  any  railroad  village  in  the  state  of  New 
Hampshire  might,  in  the  year  of  grace,  1868,  have  risen 
at  a  convenient  hour  in  the  morning,  sipped  his  cup  of 
coffee,  read  the  morning  news  leisurely  and  stepped 
aboard  the  cars,  valise  in  hand,  and  at  the  end  of  a  jour- 
ney that  had  been  monotonously  comfortable,  have 
found  himself  at  night  enjoying  the  hospitality  of 
friends  in  the  pleasant  town  of  Garland. 


A  Striking  Contrast 

The  convenience,  dispatch  and  comfort  of  journeying 
now  are  in  strange  contrast  with  the  discomfort  and 
hardships  of  traveling  at  the  opening  of  the  present 
century.  At  the  opening  of  the  year  1805,  there  were 
living  in  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  three  families  who  had 
determined  to  leave  the  homes  of  their  birth,  the  friends 
of  their  youth,  and  the  associations  of  their  earlier  life 
and  establish  new  homes  in  a  remote  township  of  eastern 
Maine.  These  were  the  families  of  Amos  Gordon, 
including  himself,  his  wife,  several  sons  and  four  daugh- 


64  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

ters,  whose  names  were  Polly,  Betsey,  Nancy  and  Miriam ; 
John  Chandler  and  family,  consisting  of  himself,  his  wife 
and  several  children,  among  whom  was  our  late  and  well 
remembered  citizen,  James  J.  Chandler,  then  a  boy  of 
seven  years ;  Moses  Gordon  and  his  wife  and  a  daughter 
of  fourteen  months.  The  families  were  accompanied  by 
Jeremiah  Flanders  and  Sampson  Silver,  who  afterwards 
became  citizens  of  the  township.  The  latter  was  a 
brother  of  Moses  Gordon's  wife.  The  company  of  emi- 
grants embraced  men  and  women  in  the  vigor  of  life, 
boys  and  girls  and  children  of  tender  age.  Early  in 
February,  their  preparations  having  been  completed, 
they  bade  adieu  to  relatives  and  friends  whom  they  might 
never  again  see,  and  taking  passage  upon  open  sleds  they 
committed  themselves  to  a  sea  of  snow  of  uncommon 
depth  even  for  an  old-fashioned  New  England  winter. 
The  journey  was  made  with  horse  teams.  They  were 
obliged  to  take  with  them  supplies  both  for  the  journey 
and  for  immediate  use  at  the  journey's  end,  and  such 
household  goods  as  were  necessary  to  meet  the  simple 
requirements  of  pioneer  life. 

They  had  scarcely  started  on  their  journey  when  they 
encountered  a  storm,  which  was  the  first  of  a  succession 
of  storms  that  assailed  them  almost  every  day  until  they 
reached  the  end.  There  was  an  unlimited  expanse  of 
deep  snow  on  every  side  of  them  and  furious  clouds  of 
snow,  driven  by  fierce  winds,  above  them.  The  several 
teams,  though  traveling  as  near  each  other  as  was  con- 
sistent with  convenience  and  safety,  were  sometimes 
hidden  from  each  other  through  almost  the  entire  day  in 
"the  tumultuous  privacy  of  storm."  There  was,  how- 
ever, one  mitigating  circumstance.  Much  of  the  latter 
part  of  their  route  led  them  through  dense  forests  that 
shielded  them  somewhat  from  the  violence  of  the  sto'rms. 
But  their  progress  was  toilsome  and  tedious.      Much  of 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  65 

the  country  through  which  they  passed  was  sparsely  set- 
tled. There  were  but  few  public  houses  on  the  latter 
part  of  their  route,  but  the  hospitality  of  the  scattered 
families  was  limited  only  by  their  ability.  When  this 
party  of  emigrants  reached  the  town  of  Harmony,  they 
were  tendered  the  use  of  the  house  and  barn  of  Mr. 
Leighton,  who,  with  his  worthy  wife,  administered  to 
their  wants  and  comfort  to  the  full  extent  of  their 
ability.  Mrs.  Leighton  had,  a  few  months  earlier,  pre- 
sented her  husband  with  twin  children,  who,  disturbed 
by  some  of  the  ills  of  childhood,  cried  vociferously 
through  a  large  part  of  the  night.  The  mother  walked 
the  room  with  them,  caiTying  each  by  turn,  endeavor- 
ing to  soothe  them  by  singing  that  grand  old  tune, 
Old  Hundred.  It  was  a  satisfaction  to  know  that  reared 
by  such  a  mother,  under  the  inspiration  of  such  music, 
they  became  substantial  citizens  of  an  intelligent  com- 
munity. 

The  snow  had  reached  such  depth  when  the  party 
arrived  at  Harmony  that  a  detention  of  several  days 
seemed  inevitable.  The  sleds  were  unloaded  and  the 
men  started  with  their  teams  with  the  intention  of 
breaking  their  way  to  the  end  of  their  route.  When 
they  had  reached  the  next  township,  now  Ripley,  they 
were  much  elated  to  find  that,  in  anticipation  of  their 
coming,  the  settlers  of  Lincolntown  had  broken  the  way 
through  the  snow  to  that  point  as  an  expression  of  their 
satisfaction  at  the  prospect  of  so  large  an  accession  to 
their  numbers. 

Returning  to  Harmony  the  party  reloaded  their  sleds 
and  renewed  their  journey.  At  nightfall  they  found 
themselves  within  the  limits  of  the  present  town  of 
Dexter,  where  they  passed  the  night  in  an  old  camp. 
ITie  night  of  the  next  day,  February  2J2,  1805,  found 
them  at  the  end  of   their   journey.      They    had  taken 


66  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

twenty-one  days  to  perform  a  journey  of  about  two 
hundred  miles.  The  fast  sailing  steamers  of  the  present 
day  would  make  their  trips  across  the  Atlantic  Ocean 
and  return  in  an  equal  period  of  time. 

Amos  and  Moses  Gordon,  with  their  families,  went 
directly  to  the  log  house  that  had  been  built  the  preced- 
ing autumn,  where  they  quickly  started  a  fire  with  fuel 
that  had  been  prepared  and  left  in  the  house. 

When  ready  to  cook  their  first  meal  Mr.  Gordon, 
assuming  a  mysterious  air,  went  to  a  barrel  that  at  the 
close  of  the  previous  season's  operations  had  been  left 
partly  filled  with  pork,  intending  to  surprise  the  hungry 
members  of  his  household  with  a  generous  piece  of  that 
article.  The  surprise  was  complete — but  Mr.  Gordon 
was  the  individual  surprised.  In  the  interval  between 
autumn  and  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  family  some 
of  the  original  dwellers  of  the  "forest  primeval"  had 
appropriated  the  meat. 

John  Chandler  and  family  spent  the  first  night  in 
Lincolntown  with  the  family  of  Joseph  Garland.  After- 
wards they  were  quartered  a  few  weeks  with  the  family 
of  Justus  Harriman. 


Burned  Out 

The  Gordon  and  Chandler  families  had  experienced 
severe  hardships  during  their  recent  journey  to  Lincoln- 
town  and  hardships  were  still  in  store  for  them.  They 
were  yet  to  be  buffeted  by  forces  that  seemed  to  chal- 
lenge their  right  to  a  foothold  in  the  new  township. 
They  had  been  assailed  by  violent  storms  through  weary 
days  while  on  their    way  to  it.      Now   that    they    had 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  67 

safely  reached  it  a  more  severe  trial  awaited  some  of 
their  numbers.  While  in  the  township  in  the  autumn 
of  1804,  Amos  Gordon  purchased  a  piece  of  land  just 
within  the  limits  of  the  present  town  of  Dexter,  about 
two  miles  away  from  his  own  land,  for  his  son  Moses 
Gordon.  A  small  opening  had  been  made  upon  it,  and 
a  cabin  of  logs  with  a  bark  roof  had  been  built. 

This  would  shelter  his  family  until  better  accommo- 
dations could  be  provided.  In  the  month  of  March, 
after  they  had  recovered  from  the  fatigue  of  their  recent 
journey  and  a  hard  crust  had  formed  upon  the  surface 
of  the  deep  snow,  Moses  Gordon,  assisted  by  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  embraced  the  opportunity  to  haul 
his  furniture,  household  goods  and  other  needful  things 
to  his  cabin  on  a  hand-sled.  Having  finished  this  work, 
he  repaired  to  the  little  cabin  early  one  bright  morning 
and  arranged  his  scanty  supply  of  furniture  so  as  to  give 
the  one  solitary  apartment  as  cheerful  an  aspect  as  possi- 
ble. After  building  a  fire  in  the  stone  fire-place  and 
guai-ding  it,  as  he  believed,  from  danger  of  accident,  he 
returned  to  get  Mrs.  Gordon  to  introduce  her  to  the 
new  home.  The  latter  hastily  preparing  herself,  they 
started  on  their  morning's  walk.  The  pure,  bracing  air 
of  the  early  spring  morning  imparted  buoyancy  to  their 
movements  and  inspired  courage  for  the  encounter  with 
the  hardships  immediately  before  them,  and  inspired 
hopes  of  the  "better  time  coming."  A  brisk  walk  car- 
ried them  to  the  little  opening  which  two  hours  earlier 
had  contained  all  their  worldly  goods,  when,  to  their 
utter  dismay,  the  site  of  their  little  cabin  presented 
nothing  but  a  heap  of  blackened  and  smouldering  ruins. 
Their  household  goods,  their  wearing  apparel,  their 
scanty  supply  of  food,  all  the  articles  for  use  and  con- 
venience that  had  been  made  by  Mrs.  Gordon's  own 
hands — all  these  things  had  disappeared  in  a  brief  hour. 


bo  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

This  sudden  change  of  prospect  was  too  much  even  for 
the  cheerful,  the  hopeful,  the  courageous  Mrs.  Gordon. 
She  fainted  and  fell  upon  the  icy  crust  that  covered  the 
snow. 

When  consciousness  returned,  she  found  herself  sitting 
upon  an  old  chest  that  had  been  left  outside  the  cabin 
because  it  was  worthless.  It  was  the  only  thing  that 
had  escaped  the  fire.  A  sickening  smoke  was  curling  up 
from  the  blackened  iniins,  as  if  in  mockery  of  her  grief. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gordon  returned  wearily  to  Amos  Gordon's 
to  remain  until  other  arrangements  for  housekeeping 
could  be  made. 

During  the  spring  of  1805,  Mr.  Gordon  selected,  and 
afterwards  purchased  lot  ten,  range  five.  The  year 
following  he  felled  six  acres  of  trees  on  the  lot  and  built 
a  house  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Murdock  build- 
ings. The  boards  which  covered  the  house  were  hauled 
from  Elkinstown  (Dexter)  with  an  ox-team.  It  required 
two  days  to  go  to  that  place  and  return  with  a  load, 
although  the  distance  was  only  five  miles. 

Early  the  following  autumn  he  moved  his  family  into 
the  house.  The  boards  with  which  the  house  was  cov- 
ered, shrunk  by  the  heat  of  the  fire  in  the  large  stone  fire- 
place, leaving  openings  for  the  winds  to  enter  unbidden. 
The  members  of  the  family  would  sometimes  awaken  in 
the  morning  to  find  that  wind  and  snow  had  provided  an 
extra  covering  for  their  beds.  Thus  it  was  with  many 
of  the  houses  of  the  earlier  settlers. 


A  Spacious  Sleeping  Apartment 

John  Chandler  and  his  family,  who  accompanied  the 
Gordon  families  on  their  journey  to  Lincolntown,  spent 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  69 

the  night  in  the  township  under  the  hospitable  roof  of 
Joseph  Garland.  The  next  day  they  found  quarters  in 
the  cabin  of  Justus  HaiTiman,  where  they  remained  until 
the  first  of  May.  Mr.  Chandler  had  purchased  of 
Arnold  Murray  his  interest  in  lot  eight,  range  nine, 
which  joined  Mr.  Harriman's  lot.  Mr.  Murray  had 
felled  an  opening  on  this  lot  three  years  earlier  and  had 
raised  one  or  two  crops  there.  Henry  Merrill,  who  mar- 
ried a  granddaughter  of  John  Chandler,  now  owns  and 
occupies  the  same  lot. 

Mr.  Harriman's  little  cabin  afforded  close  quarters 
for  his  own  family.  There  was  scarcely  more  than 
standing  room  for  two  families.  Lodgings  for  the 
Chandler  family  must  be  sought  elsewhere.  Necessity 
often  enforces  compliance  with  accommodations  that 
accord  neither  with  choice  nor  convenience.  In  this  case 
it  compelled  the  Chandler  family  to  resort  to  the  bam  for 
lodgings.  Beds  were,  therefore,  placed  in  the  barn  and 
comfortably  furnished.  Ilie  inconvenience  in  the  case 
was  in  getting  to  and  from  the  bam  through  the  snow  and 
water  of  the  warm  spring  days.  Repairing  to  the  barn 
for  the  night  without  adequate  protection  for  the  feet, 
the  hosiery  of  the  family  became  saturated  with  water. 
Cold  nights  followed  warm  days  and  the  footwear  would 
freeze.  Fmitful  in  expedients,  Mrs.  Chandler  wrung 
the  water  from  the  hosiery  and  placing  it  between  the 
feather  and  straw  beds  it  came  out  in  the  morning  in 
good  condition  for  use. 


The  Surprise 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Chandler  family  in  the 
township  Mr.  Chandler  commenced  preparations  to  build 


70  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

a  house.  Before  the  coming  of  May  he  had  a  frame  up, 
ready  to  cover;  also  a  supply  of  boards  and  nails. 
Keeping  house  at  Mr.  Harriman's,  where  the  room  was 
so  limited,  had  become  irksome  to  both  families.  Mrs. 
Chandler  cherished  a  strong  desire  for  a  home  of  her 
own  at  the  earliest  possible  date.  One  day,  early  in 
May,  Mr.  Chandler  was  about  to  start  on  a  business 
trip  to  Bangor  on  horseback.  He  would  be  absent  three 
days.  As  he  rode  from  the  dooryard  Mrs.  Chandler 
mysteriously  hinted  that  on  his  return  he  would  find 
something  to  surprise  him.  He  had  no  sooner  disap- 
peared in  the  forest  than  she  summoned  their  hired  man, 
Sampson  Silver,  to  her  assistance,  directing  him  to  equip 
himself  with  the  necessary  tools  and  go  to  the  house 
frame  which  was  a  short  distance  away  and  nail  to  frame 
and  rafters  enough  boards  to  shield  herself  and  family 
from  wind  and  rain.  Mr.  Silver,  entering  into  the  spirit 
of  the  joke,  had  accomplished  the  work  he  was  directed 
to  do  by  nightfall  of  the  first  day.  At  the  close  of  the 
second  day,  which  opened  auspiciously  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  their  plans,  beds,  cooking  utensils  and 
other  things  necessary  to  a  rude  form  of  housekeeping 
had  been  moved  in  and  the  family  had  taken  possession 
of  their  new  quarters. 

But  now  to  their  dismay  ominous  clouds  were  rapidly 
gathering.  About  midnight  while  the  members  of  this 
little  family  might  have  been  indulging  in  pleasant 
dreams,  inspired  by  the  sentiment  that  "be  it  ever  so 
humble  there  is  no  place  like  home,"  the  rain  suddenly 
came,  and,  to  use  a  modern  phrase,  "the  storm  center" 
seemed  to  rest  directly  over  the  devoted  household. 
With  the  ready  command  of  expedients  characteristic 
of  the  early  settlers,  Mrs.  Chandler  promptly  summoned 
the  hired  man,  and  together  they  rolled  beds  and  bed- 
ding into  the  smallest  possible  compass  and  covered  them 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  71 

with  boards  which  were  at  hand,  thus  saving  them  from 
getting  wet.  The  morning  of  the  third  day  dawned 
pleasantly  and  it  was  spent  in  obliterating  the  traces  of 
the  recent  rain  and  preparations  for  the  reception  of  Mr. 
Chandler  on  his  return  from  Bangor. 

The  mind  of  the  latter  as  he  approached  his  home 
was  sharply  exercised  over  the  solution  of  the  character 
of  the  surprise  that  awaited  his  return.  Emerging  from 
the  shadows  of  the  forest  just  as  night  was  shutting  over 
the  scene,  into  the  little  opening  which  he  had  often 
looked  upon  as  the  site  of  his  future  residence,  he  met 
his  wife  who  smilingly  invited  him  to  the  comforts  of 
their  new  home.  This  was  the  surprise  so  mysteriously 
suggested  as  he  rode  from  the  Harriman  cabin  three 
days  earlier.  Mr.  Chandler  now  continued  the  work  on 
the  new  house  which  Mrs.  Chandler  had  so  heroically 
begun,  until  it  reached  the  condition  of  a  comfortable 
dwelling. 


A  Discovery 

The  difficulty  of  procuring  seed  for  crops  constituted 
one  form  of  hardship  for  the  early  settlers  of  a  new 
township.  They  were  often  compelled  to  travel  many 
miles  on  foot  for  this  purpose  and  bear  their  purchases 
home  on  their  shoulders. 

Mr.  Chandler  was,  however,  more  fortunate  in  supply- 
ing himself  with  seed  for  his  first  crop  of  potatoes.  He 
found  a  plat  that  had  been  planted  with  potatoes  the 
preceding  year  by  Mr.  Murray,  who  had  left  the  crop  in 
the  ground  through  the  winter,  which,  covered  by  the 
deep  snow,  had  not  been  frozen.      From  this  plat  he  dug 


72  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

eight  bushels  of  the  tubers  that  were  in  good  condition 
for  seed. 

From  seed  thus  obtained  many  crops  were  raised  in 
this  and  subsequent  years  by  Mr.  Chandler  and  his 
neighbors.  This  discovery  was  more  to  the  Chandlers 
than  the  acquisition  of  a  thousand  gold  dollars  to  a 
Vanderbilt  of  the  present  time. 

Arnold  Murray,  who  had  made  a  beginning  on  lot 
eight,  range  nine,  in  1802  and  had  sold  his  interest  in 
the  lot  to  John  Chandler  in  1805,  made  another  begin- 
ning on  lot  eleven,  range  nine,  in  1805,  where  he  lived 
for  several  years.  This  lot  afterwards  passed  into  the 
hands  of  a  Mr.  Besse  and  has  since  been  known  as  the 
Besse  place,  although  it  has  passed  through  the  hands  of 
several  different  owners  since. 


Another  Fire  in   1805 

An  ever  present  menace  to  the  inhabitants  of  a  new 
township  is  the  liability  to  the  loss  of  their  homes  and 
property  by  fire.  The  flues  that  conducted  the  smoke 
from  the  fierce  fires  of  the  large  stone  fire-places  of  their 
humble  cabins  were  often  built  of  sticks  and  clay.  Such 
chimneys  would  sometimes  burn  and  the  debris  falling 
into  the  capacious  fire-place  below,  the  cabin  would 
escape  destruction  by  the  fiery  agent.  But  the  more 
immediate  danger  from  fire  arose  from  the  necessity  of 
clearing  land  for  crops  by  burning  the  forest  growth. 
In  times  of  drought  the  fire  which  had  been  set  to  clear 
the  lands  for  the  season's  crops  would  be  driven  by 
adverse  winds  towards  the  buildings  of  the  settlers  and 
their  homes  would  suddenly  disappear. 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  73 

Josiah  Bartlett,  who  had  made  the  first  beginning  in 
the  township,  was  the  subject  of  a  misfortune  of  this 
kind  in  1805.  He  had  built  a  small  but  comfortable 
house  and  barn,  and  with  characteristic  prudence,  had 
laid  in  supplies  for  use  through  the  summer  and  autumn, 
and  seed  for  his  crops.  He  had  also  provided  himself 
with  an  abundance  of  clothing.  In  his  barn  were  a  yoke 
of  oxen,  a  horse  and  his  farming  tools.  One  day  while 
at  work  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  buildings  they 
took  fire  from  some  burning  piles  near  them.  His 
sister,  afterwards  a  Mrs.  Chase  of  Epping,  N.  H.,  who 
was  keeping  house  for  him,  w£is  absent  on  a  visit  at 
William  Sargent's,  who  lived  where  James  Rideout  now 
resides. 

When  he  saw  that  his  buildings  were  on  fire  he 
hastened  to  them,  reaching  them  just  in  time  to  save  one 
feather-bed.  The  horse  and  one  ox  were  burned  to 
death  in  the  bam.  The  other  ox  died  the  next  day. 
In  relating  these  occurrences  years  later  to  children  and 
friends  Mr.  Bartlett  used  to  say  that  as  he  could  not 
save  the  buildings  by  his  unaided  efforts,  and  knowing 
that  there  was  no  human  being  near  enough  to  respond 
to  cries  for  assistance,  he  carried  the  feather-bed  he  had 
snatched  from  the  flames  to  a  safe  distance  from  the 
burning  ruins  and  lying  upon  it,  he  calmly  watched  the 
progress  of  the  destructive  elements  and  congratulated 
himself  that  the  calamity  was  no  worse. 

Mr.  Bartlett  lost  a  second  barn  a  few  years  later  and 
with  it  some  valuable  stock. 


74  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

First  Beginning  in  the  Southwest  Part  of  the 
Township 

The  coming  of  Edward  Fifield  into  the  township,  in 
company  with  the  Gordon  and  Chandler  famihes  in  the 
autumn  of  1804,  to  clear  land  whereon  to  establish  a 
home  has  been  noted.  This  was  the  first  beginning  in 
the  southwest  part  of  the  township.  Mr.  Fifield  came 
from  the  town  of  Ware,  N.  H.  Early  in  the  spring  of 
1805  he  returned  to  the  township  to  build  a  house  and 
make  preparations  for  raising  crops.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  several  sons  and  Mr.  John  Hayes,  a  carpenter, 
who  took  charge  of  building  the  house  which  was  located 
on  the  site  of  the  buildings  upon  the  Joel  W.  Otis  place. 
After  clearing  several  acres  for  a  crop  of  wheat,  the  seed, 
which  had  been  purchased  of  Cornelius  Coolidge  of 
Elkinstown  (Dexter),  must  be  brought  to  the  place 
where  it  was  to  be  sown,  and  in  the  absence  of  any 
other  mode  of  convej^ance,  it  was  borne  in  bags  upon 
the  shoulders  of  Mr.  Fifield  and  his  stalwart  sons.  As 
there  was  no  trail  leading  directly  to  the  Coolidge  place, 
the  Fifields  followed  a  circuitous  route  which  had  been 
marked  for  the  convenience  of  others.  This  route  led 
them  across  the  outlet  of  Pleasant  Pond  to  the  Murdock 
place,  thence  easterly  to  the  brook  a  little  to  the  east  of 
Maple  Grove  Cemetery,  thence  northwesterly  to  the 
Dearborn  place,  thence  westerly  on  the  line  of  the 
present  center  road  to  the  Coolidge  place.  The  distance 
traveled  to  the  Coolidge  place  and  back  must  have  been 
twelve  miles. 

The  field  they  had  cleared  embraced  several  acres  and 
they  were  obliged  to  make  several  trips  to  get  the 
required  quantity  of  seed.  At  the  close  of  the  spring 
farming  Mr.  Fifield  returned  to  New  Hampshire  for  his 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  75 

family,   which  before  the  close  of  June,  was  safely  estab- 
lished in  the  new  home. 


Coming  of   Mechanics 

Nearly  all  the  immigrants  to  the  township  during  the 
first  two  or  three  years  were  farmers,  who  could  build 
rude  cabins  and  perform  other  necessary  work  without 
the  aid  of  skilled  labor.  With  prudent  foresight  they 
brought  with  them  wearing  apparel  and  other  articles  of 
prime  necessity  to  meet  immediate  wants.  But  as  time 
passed  and  numbers  increased  and  wants  multiplied, 
there  was  a  demand  for  mechanics,  and  mechanics  came. 
Two  or  three  of  this  useful  class  of  citizens  came  at  an 
early  date.  These  were  followed  by  others  in  1805.  In 
those  earlier  days  of  the  township  the  mechanic  could 
not  depend  upon  constant  employment  at  his  trade.  It 
was,  therefore,  the  common  practice  for  this  class  of 
men  to  provide  themselves  with  land  so  that  they  might 
resort  to  the  source  that  supplies,  directly  or  indirectly, 
universal  humanity  with  food. 

John  Hayes  came  into  the  township  in  1805  to  do 
the  carpentry  upon  the  house  of  Edward  Fifield,  whose 
daughter  he  subsequently  married.  He  purchased  lot 
ten  in  range  two  and  in  1806  built  a  house  upon  it, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death.  The  place  where  he  lived 
is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  S.  M.  Paul. 

In  March,  1805,  the  first  shoemaker  made  his  appear- 
ance in  the  township  in  the  person  of  Enoch  Jackman, 
who  emigrated  from  Salisbury,  Mass.  Mr.  Jackman 
established  his  family  upon  lot  eight,  range  six,  where 
Landeras  Grant  had  made  a  beginning  two  years  earlier. 


76  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  place  was  afterwards  known  as  the  Henry  Calef 
place.  No  family  lives  upon  it  at  the  present  time. 
Mr.  Jackman  was  a  faithful  and  accommodating  work- 
man and  was  regarded  as  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the 
township.  Like  other  men  of  his  trade  he  went  from 
house  to  house  for  the  families  who  furnished  the  stock, 
carrying  his  tools  with  him.  He  charged  seventy -five 
cents  for  his  services  per  day  and  the  making  of  two 
pairs  of  shoes  was  a  day's  work.  He  was  of  a  kindly 
and  social  disposition  and  his  narrations  of  the  experi- 
ences of  life  in  the  new  township  gathered  from  the  lips 
of  his  patrons,  ranging  from  the  ludicrous  to  the 
pathetic,  were  listened  to  with  great  interest.  More- 
over the  click  of  his  hammer  upon  the  old-fashioned 
lap-stone  was  prophetic  of  comfort  in  the  wintry  days 
coming.  While  on  a  visit  to  the  township  previous  to 
his  immigration  he  humorously  boasted  that  he  would 
bring  with  him  a  shoemaker,  a  schoolmaster  and  a 
schoolmistress.  The  promised  shoemaker  was  embraced 
in  his  own  personality.  Two  of  his  daughters  taught 
school  in  the  old  schoolhouse  that  stood  in  the  comer 
nearly  opposite  the  present  schoolhouse  in  district  number 
eight.  Both  were  women  of  great  physical  strength,  and 
it  was  a  venturesome  youth  who  dared  invoke  their  dis- 
pleasure. The  promised  schoolmaster  never  appeared. 
Mr.  Jackman  had  been  favored  with  a  good  education  for 
the  times  and  possessed  a  remarkable  memory.  Tradition 
says  of  him  that  after  listening  to  a  sermon,  although 
appearing  to  have  been  asleep  during  its  delivery,  he 
would  repeat  nearly  the  whole  of  it  without  apparent 
effort.  Mr.  Jackman  lived  on  the  Calef  place  only  a 
few  years.  His  second  residence  in  the  township  was  on 
lot  nine,  range  ten,  now  owned  by  Henry  Merrill. 

In  the  spring  of  1805,   Nathan  Merrill,  a  carpenter 
and  spinning-wheel  maker,  moved  into  the  township  and 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  77 

established  a  home  on  the  easterly  part  of  lot  six,  range 
two,  opposite  the  present  residence  of  Glenn  Morgan. 

To  the  present  generation  it  may  seem  almost  incredi- 
ble that  during  the  opening  years  of  the  present  century, 
and  within  the  memory  of  many  now  living,  the  yarn 
that  entered  into  the  clothing  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Province  of  Maine,  whether  woolen,  cotton  or  flaxen, 
was  spun  by  hand  on  the  old-fashioned  spinning-wheel. 
Spinning  was  a  widely  diffused  industry  and  the  monoto- 
nous hum  of  the  spinning-wheel  was  heard  in  every  well- 
ordered  household.  The  manufacturer  of  a  spinning- 
wheel,  was  therefore,  regarded  as  a  useful  citizen. 

John  Knight,  who  two  years  earlier  had  married  into 
the  Grant  family,  located  and  built  upon  the  westerly 
part  of  lot  six,  range  two,  in  1805.  The  site  of  his 
house  is  marked  by  the  old  cellar  that  may  still  be  seen 
a  short  distance  east  of  the  present  residence  of  Albert 
Grinnell. 

Enoch  Clough,  for  many  years  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Garland,  came  to  the  township  in  1805. 

Simon  French  also  came  the  same  year. 


A  Large  Crop  of  Corn 

Wm.  Godwin,  who  had  purchased  one  hundred  acres 
of  land  of  David  A.  Gove  and  had  felled  an  opening  on 
it  in  1804,  enlarged  it  this  year  and  raised  a  large  crop 
of  corn.  The  large  crops  of  corn  and  wheat  that  were 
early  realized  attracted  many  persons  to  the  township. 

The  site  of  his  buildings  was  opposite  Maple  Grove 
Cemetery. 


78  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


The  First  Strawberry  Festival 

Peter  Chase  had  made  a  beginning  on  lot  seven,  range 
nine  in  1802.  A  year  later  he  cleared  land  and  sowed 
grass  seed  on  it.  In  1804,  that  most  delicious  berry, 
the  strawberry,  appeared.  In  1805  they  were  quite 
abundant. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Chase  had  built  a  small  house. 
His  nearest  neighbor,  Moses  Smith,  had  made  a  begin- 
ning on  the  adjoining  lot.  Chase  and  Smith  were 
young  men  without  families  and  lived  together  in  the 
house  of  the  former.  When  the  berries  had  ripened 
those  men  conceived  the  plan  of  calling  the  scattered 
inhabitants  together  to  share  with  them  a  feast  of  ber- 
ries. In  response  to  the  invitation  the  people  of  the 
entire  township  assembled  at  the  strawberry  field  at  the 
appointed  time.  At  the  end  of  an  hour  spent  in  pick- 
ing berries  they  were  invited  to  the  house,  where  to 
their  surprise  and  gratification,  they  found  a  table  cov- 
ered with  substantial  food  which  had  been  provided  by 
their  bachelor  friends.  With  the  addition  of  strawber- 
ries, and  the  cream  that  had  been  brought  by  some  of 
the  company,  and  tea  sweetened  with  maple  sugar, 
which  the  women  pronounced  delicious,  the  entertain- 
ment was  without  doubt,  enjoyed  as  keenly  as  the  more 
elaborate  entertainments  of  the  present  day.  At  the 
close,  a  brief  time  was  spent  in  the  expression  of  friendly 
interest  and  good  wishes.  The  company  then  separated 
and  soon  disappearing  in  the  shadows  of  the  forest, 
eagerly  threaded  their  way  to  their  scattered  homes, 
carrying  with  them  pleasant  memories  to  cheer  them  in 
the  days  that  followed. 

At  the  close  of  the  season  Chase  and  Smith  left  the 
township  not  to  return.      It  must  have  been  an  occasion 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  79 

of  keen  regret  to  the  scattered  families  that  an  acquaint- 
ance so  pleasantly  began  should  have  terminated  so 
abruptly. 


The  First  School 

The  school  was  an  essential  factor  in  the  progress  of 
New  England  civilization.  It  sprang  from  New  Eng- 
land ideas  as  naturally  as  weeds  from  the  fire-swept  lands 
of  the  new  settlement.  The  necessary  conditions  were 
few  and  simple.  A  half  dozen  children  of  school  age,  liv- 
ing within  a  mile  of  a  common  center,  a  person  qualified 
to  instruct  in  the  simplest  rudiments  of  English  literature 
whose  services  were  available,  books  of  the  most  ele- 
mentary character  and,  in  warm  weather,  a  spare  corner 
in  some  house  or  barn — these  were  all  the  conditions 
necessary  to  the  opening  of  a  school.  The  products  of 
the  soil  constituted  the  currency  of  the  inhabitants  and 
teachers  were  usually  satisfied  to  receive  these  in  pay- 
ment for  their  services. 

After  the  coming  into  the  township  of  the  Gordon 
and  Chandler  families  in  1805,  the  necessary  conditions 
were  fulfilled  and  a  school  was  opened  in  Joseph 
Garland's  barn,  expenses  being  paid  by  the  parents  of 
the  children.  Miss  Nancy  Gordon,  afterwards  the  wife 
of  William  Godwin,  was  the  teacher,  and  she  had  the 
honor  of  teaching  the  first  school  in  the  present  town  of 
Garland.  This  unpretentious  school  embraced  eight 
bright  boys  and  girls,  some  of  whom,  in  turn,  became 
teachers  of  note. 


80  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


A  Disappointment 

The  early  settlers  of  the  township  had  regarded  the 
existence  of  a  saw-mill  therein  with  great  satisfaction, 
but  subsequent  experience  forced  the  conviction  upon 
them  that  it  would  be  of  but  little  advantage  to  them. 
The  more  sagacious  inhabitants  desired  to  have  such 
timber  sawed  as  was  necessary  to  the  construction  of 
comparatively  small  and  rude  habitations,  reserving  the 
larger  and  more  valuable  growth  of  pine,  of  which  there 
were  considerable  quantities,  for  subsequent  use  or  sale. 
They  expected  to  pay  bills  for  sawing  by  turning  over  to 
the  mill  owners  a  share  of  the  lumber  sawed,  but  such 
expectations  failed  of  realization. 

John  Grant  from  Berwick,  Maine,  had  purchased  the 
mill  in  1803.  Early  in  the  spring  of  that  year  he 
appeared  in  the  township  with  several  grown  up  sons 
and  a  six  ox  team  with  the  necessary  equipment  for  the 
lumbering  business.  His  plans  were  not  at  all  in  accord 
with  the  expectations  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town- 
ship. There  was  a  good  growth  of  pine  on  the  mill 
lot,  as  well  as  on  other  lots  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mill 
site.  In  the  language  of  one  of  the  early  settlers 
* 'there  was  upon  the  borders  of  the  stream  and  meadow 
below  the  mill  an  abundance  of  pine  as  handsome  as 
ever  grew  from  Penobscot  soil. ' '  With  a  team  of  his 
own  equipped  for  service  and  a  crew  from  his  own  family 
to  man  it,  and  with  a  heavy  growth  of  pine  of  his  own 
in  close  proximity  to  the  mill  site  and  large  quantities 
that  could  be  purchased  at  a  price  merely  nominal,  he 
could  stock  his  mill  and  supply  the  inhabitants  of  neigh- 
boring towns,  and  thereby  establish  a  business  that  would 
yield  him  a  fortune.  The  growing  settlement  of  Blais- 
delltown    (Exeter),     New    Ohio    (Corinth),    and    New 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,    MAINE  81 

Charleston  (Charleston),  extended  to  the  Grants  consid- 
erable patronage,  but  not  enough  to  make  their  business 
successful.  One  great  hindrance  to  success  was  the  lack 
of  money.  The  early  settlers  were  scantily  supplied 
with  this  vital  element  of  business  enterprise.  Another 
hindrance  was  the  total  absence  of  the  spirit  of  accom- 
modation in  their  dealings  with  their  neighbors.  One 
of  these  hauled  some  spruce  logs  to  the  mill  with  the 
purpose  of  having  them  sawed  into  boards.  The  logs 
were  of  medium  size  but  not  entirely  innocent  of  knots. 
The  Grant  who  had  charge  of  the  mill  gruffly  refused  to 
saw  them,  giving  as  the  reason  that  the  knots  were 
harder  than  spikes  and  that  it  would  take  two  such  logs 
to  make  a  decent  slab. 

Repelled  by  such  rebuffs  the  inhabitants  of  the  north- 
em  and  western  parts  of  Lincolntown  obtained  boards 
to  cover  their  buildings  at  Elkinstown  (Dexter). 
Among  these  were  Amos  and  Moses  Gordon,  Justus 
Harriman  and  John  Chandler.  The  refusal  of  the 
Grants  to  saw  spruce  and  hemlock  was  followed  by  the 
necessity  of  using  pine  lumber  for  the  most  common 
purposes.  Many  of  the  buildings  in  this  and  neighbor- 
ing townships  were  covered  with  the  best  quality  of  pine 
boards,  while  hemlock  lumber,  which  was  equally  as  good 
for  that  purpose,  was  burned  upon  the  ground  where  it 
grew,  to  make  room  for  the  crops  because  the  mill  owners 
refused  to  saw  it.  After  draining  the  section  of  the 
township  immediately  around  the  mill  site,  the  mill 
property  passed  into  other  hands  about  the  year  1810. 


82  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


The  Township  in  1806 

Accessions  to  the  township  in  1806  were  not  numer- 
ous, but  events  occurred  that  were  of  importance  to  the 
future  of  the  settlement.  Jeremiah  Flanders,  who  had 
visited  the  township  in  1804  and  had  spent  the  summer 
of  1805  therein  in  the  service  of  Amos  Gordon,  pur- 
chased and  made  a  beginning  for  himself  in  1806  or 
1807  on  lot  eleven,  range  six,  the  site  of  the  present 
home  of  Edwin  Preble. 

Sampson  Silver,  who  had  made  his  first  visit  to  the 
township  in  1804  and  had  worked  for  John  Chandler  the 
following  year,  made  a  beginning  on  the  westerly  part  of 
lot  ten,  range  five,  the  site  of  the  present  home  of  the 
late  Albert  G.  Gordon. 

Enoch  Clough  purchased  the  westerly  part  of  lot 
nine,  range  five,  and  felled  ten  acres  of  trees  on  it.  The 
place  of  this  beginning  is  now  owned  by  Ernest  Rollins. 
He  subsequently  exchanged  this  place  with  Thomas  S. 
Tyler  for  lot  ten,  range  seven. 

Philip  Greeley  came  into  the  township  about  the  year 
1806  and  bought  lot  ten,  range  nine,  of  James  Garland, 
built  a  log  house  and  made  some  improvements  on  it. 
At  the  time  of  his  purchase  there  was  an  opening  on  it 
of  ten  acres  that  had  been  made  by  Mr.  Garland  in 
1802.  The  westerly  part  of  this  lot  is  now  the  home 
of  George  Arnold,  and  Charles  Carr  resides  on  the  east- 
erly part.  Mr.  Greeley  emigrated  from  Salisbury,  N. 
H.,  through  the  influence  of  the  Garland  family  with 
which  he  was  connected  by  marriage.  He  soon  sold  this 
lot  to  William  Dustin,  a  brother-in-law  of  John 
Chandler,  and  made  a  beginning  on  lot  nine,  range 
eight,  and  subsequently  purchsised,  and  lived  upon  it 
until  his  death.      This  place  was  afterwards  the  home  of 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  8S 

the  late  Artemas  Barton,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Dex- 
ter, now  owned  by  his  son,  R.  M.  Barton. 

John  Trefethen  settled  on  lot  eleven,  range  two,  about 
1806.  William  and  George  W.  Wyman  afterwards 
lived  upon  this  lot  for  several  years.  It  is  now  the  resi- 
dence of  John  S.  Hayden. 

Joseph  Saunders,  an  emigrant  from  New  Gloucester, 
Maine,  who  had  felled  an  opening  on  lot  four,  range 
nine,  in  1802,  moved  his  family  into  the  township  in 
1806.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children,  among 
whom  was  a  daughter  who  had  become  the  wife  of 
Deacon  Robei-t  Seward.  The  lot  where  he  made  his 
beginning  became  the  site,  in  turn,  of  the  residence  of 
Nathaniel  Emerson  and  Micah  C.  Emerson.  It  is  now 
owned  by  John  E.  Hamilton. 

Joshus  Silver  made  his  appearance  in  the  township  in 
1806.  He  did  not,  however,  become  immediately  a 
resident  here,  having  lived  in  Elkinstown  (Dexter)  and 
Charleston  for  several  years  before  establishing  a  resi- 
dence in  Lincoln  town.  He  finally  established  a  resi- 
dence on  lot  eleven,  range  seven,  where  he  lived  for 
several  years.  Mr.  Silver  was  a  man  of  some  eccentrici- 
ties. By  virtue  of  being  the  seventh  son  of  a  seventh 
son,  he  claimed  power  over  disease. 


The   First   Tanner 

During  the  first  half  of  the  present  century  the  tan- 
ning business  was  a  widely  diffused  industry.  Nearly 
every  town  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  town  of  Gar- 
land was  favored  with  the  existence  of  a  tannery,  where 
the  hides  of  animals  slaughtered  for  food  could  be  con- 


84  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

verted  into  leather,  thus  supplying  an  ever  existing- 
necessity.  From  the  middle  of  the  century  the  small 
tanneries  disappeared.  This  was  due  partly  to  the 
growing  scarcity  of  the  bark  supply  and  partly  to  the 
increasing  tendency  of  absorption  of  small  manufactur- 
ing industries  by  large  establishments  and  corporations, 
whose  command  of  money  enabled  them  to  appropriate 
improved  modern  methods  and  expensive  machinery. 

A  few  years  subsequent  to  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
the  small  tanneries  had  nearly  all  disappeared. 

Lincolntown's  first  tanner,  who  was  also  a  shoemaker, 
was  Andrew  Griffin.  Mr.  Griffin  purchased  ten  acres  of 
land  of  Joseph  Garland,  located  on  the  brook  between 
the  present  residences  of  David  Dearborn  and  Barton 
McComb.  Here  he  built  a  small  framed  house  for  his 
family  in  1806  and  a  shop  for  his  business.  A  small 
level  plat  still  shows  the  locality  of  his  tan-vats,  which 
were  just  outside  his  shop.  A  rude  covering  protected 
his  bark  and  apparatus  for  grinding  it,  from  rain.  His 
machinery  for  grinding  bark  was  of  the  most  primitive 
character.  It  consisted  of  a  circular  platform  of  plank, 
ten  or  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  through  the  center  of 
which  an  upright  post  was  set  firmly  in  the  earth.  The 
section  of  the  post  above  the  platform  was  about  three 
feet  in  height.  A  circular  piece  of  granite  six  feet  in 
diameter  and  ten  or  twelve  inches  in  thickness  was  placed 
in  a  vertical  position  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  platform. 
A  wooden  shaft  was  passed  through  the  center  of  the 
granite  and  firmly  fastened,  one  end  of  which  was 
attached  to  the  top  of  the  post  in  the  center  of  the 
platform  by  a  revolving  joint.  A  horse,  harnessed  to 
the  opposite  end  of  the  shaft,  traveled  around  the  plat- 
form. The  bark  was  broken  into  small  pieces  and 
thrown  under  the  rolling  stone  and  thus  reduced  to  a. 
condition  suitable  for  use. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  85 

The  grinding  of  a  single  cord  of  bark  was  a  good 
day's  work.  It  was  a  tedious  method,  as  indeed  were  all 
the  processes  of  manufacturing  leather  in  those  days, 
but  they  met  the  requirements  of  the  times. 


The  First  Physician 

Attendance  upon  the  sick  in  the  new  settlements  of 
eastern  Maine  at  the  opening  of  the  present  century 
was  a  long  remove  from  holiday  amusement.  In  the 
absence  of  roads  the  physician  in  his  visits  to  the  scat- 
tered families  of  his  own  and  neighboring  townships  was 
obliged  to  follow  uncertain  way-marks  along  angular 
and  circuitous  routes  through  dense  forests — to  cross 
unbridged  streams — climb  over  prostrate  trees — to  make 
circuit  of  bogs  and  swamps  and  to  scale  hills  and 
mountains.  If  darkness  obscured  his  pathway  while 
yet  in  the  forest  remote  from  human  habitations,  his 
only  alternative  was  to  brace  himself  for  hours  of  soli- 
tude and  nervous  apprehension  while  listening  to  the 
stealthy  tread  of  prowling  beasts  (oftener  imaginary 
rather  than  real)  and  the  dismal  hooting  of  long  visaged 
owls.  The  companionship  of  a  faithful  horse  or  dog,  if 
he  was  fortunate  enough  to  possess  one,  would  divert 
the  sluggish  hours  of  much  of  their  dreariness,  but  the 
humble  followers  of  iEsculapius  were  then  oftener 
destitute  of  both  than  otherwise. 

In  the  year  1806  the  first  physician  of  the  township, 
in  the  person  of  Dr.  Joseph  Pratt,  made  his  appearance. 
He  was  accompanied  by  a  brother.  The  two  brothers 
found  a  temporary  home  in  the  family  of  Joseph 
Garland.      The  destitution  of  a  physician  in  the  town- 


86  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

ship  before  the  coming  of  Dr.  Pratt  had  been  the  occa- 
sion of  inconvenience  and  anxiety.  His  coming  was 
hailed  with  joy  and  he  subsequently  proved  himself 
worthy  of  confidence,  both  as  a  physician  and  citizen. 
His  practice  extended  to  other  townships. 

An  incident  of  his  early  practice  will  illustrate  his 
fidelity  to  his  profession  as  well  as  the  hardships  which 
the  physician  was  occasionally  called  to  endure.  A  Mr. 
Brockway  of  Amestown  (Sangerville)  desired  the  ser- 
vices of  a  physician  in  his  family  and  Dr.  Pratt  was 
summoned.  It  was  midwinter — the  weather  was  cold 
and  the  snow  deep.  As  a  horse  could  not  be  used,  a 
more  primitive  method  of  travel  was  resorted  to.  The 
distance  to  Amestown  in  a  direct  course  was  ten  miles,  but 
the  route  followed  required  more  than  twenty  miles  of 
travel.  Daunted  neither  by  distance,  depth  of  snow  nor 
stress  of  weather.  Dr.  Pratt  fastened  on  his  snowshoes 
and  started  in  response  to  the  summons.  His  line  of 
travel  led  him  to  Elkinstown  (Dexter)  thence  to  his 
objective  point.  He  arrived  in  Amestown  in  due  time 
and  accomplished  the  purpose  of  his  visit,  but  when 
ready  to  start  on  his  journey  homeward,  a  violent  storm 
of  snow,  the  first  of  a  succession  of  storms,  began  and 
detained  him  from  day  to  day.  When  he  reached  home 
he  found  by  consulting  the  calendar  that  he  had  been 
absent  twenty-one  days. 


The  First  Visit  of  a  Minister 

Religious  meetings  in  the  township  in  the  first  few 
years  of  its  history  were  neither  of  frequent  nor  regular 
occurrence.     Many  of  its  residents  having   been  relig- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  87 

iously  educated,  keenly  felt  their  destitution  of  religious 
privileges.  The  Sabbath,  which  they  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  regard  as  a  day  for  rest  and  religious  improve- 
ment, now  gave  no  sign  of  its  presence  save  by  the 
partial  cessation  of  the  ordinary  business  of  the  week 
and  the  interchange  of  social  visits  between  the  scat- 
tered families.  When,  therefore,  after  a  lapse  of  four 
years,  they  were  favored  with  occasional  visits  of  some 
devoted  minister,  they  hailed  his  presence  with  mani- 
festations of  joy  and  heard  him  gladly.  To  them  it 
was  prophetic  of  better  days.  The  glad  news  of  his 
coming  was  spread  from  house  to  house  and  the  Sabbath 
found  the  scattered  people  with  one  accord  in  one  place. 
In  their  eagerness  to  hear  the  words  of  the  living 
preacher  they  forgot  their  denominational  preferences,  if 
indeed  they  cherished  any. 

The  first  minister  to  visit  the  township  was  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Sewall,  one  of  the  numerous  family  of  ministers 
of  that  name.  Mr.  Sewall's  first  visit  to  the  township 
was  in  1806.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  house 
of  Joseph  Garland,  where  the  people  gathered  and  lis- 
tened with  great  interest.  He  afterwards  made  several 
visits  to  the  township. 


First  Winter  School 

The  first  summer  school  in  the  township,  taught  by 
Miss  Nancy  Gordon,  in  Joseph  Garland's  barn,  has  been 
noticed.  The  following  winter  William  Mitchell,  then 
residing  in  Elkinstown  (Dexter),  taught  school  in  Joseph 
Garland's  house,  which  occupied  the  site  of  the  present 
residence  of   David   Dearborn.       The    school    embraced 


88  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

scholars  of  all  ages  from  all  parts  of  the  township. 
Several  persons  who  had  passed  the  limit  of  school  age 
attended  it.  It  was  a  school  of  respectable  numbers. 
Mr.  Mitchell  had  been  a  student  in  the  old  academy  at 
Gilmantown,  N.  H.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary intelligence  for  the  times.  He  was  original  in 
methods,  abrupt  in  manners  and  stem  in  discipline. 
Many  of  his  scholars  carried  very  distinct  recollections 
of  his  words  and  ways  through  life.  Our  late  venerable 
citizen,  James  J.  Chandler,  was  one  of  his  scholars. 

As  Mr.  Mitchell  was,  in  later  years,  a  resident  of 
Garland  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  one  of  its  cemeteries, 
some  of  his  early  experiences  illustrative  of  pioneer  life 
in  eastern  Maine  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century 
may  appropriately  be  noticed. 

He  early  emigrated  from  Sanbornton,  N.  H.,  to 
Athens,  Maine.  In  the  autumn  of  1802,  he  selected  a 
piece  of  land  in  Elkinstown  (Dexter)  and  built  a  small 
cabin  of  logs  thereon.  The  site  of  the  little  cabin  was 
a  short  distance  east  of  the  present  residence  of  A.  L. 
Barton  and  near  the  westerly  limit  of  Lincolntown. 
The  brook,  upon  the  margin  of  which  the  cabin  stood, 
is  still  known  as  the  Mitchell  brook.  Early  in  March, 
1808,  he  employed  a  neighbor  with  a  two-horse  team  to 
move  his  family  and  such  household  goods  as  would  be 
needed  for  immediate  use  to  his  cabin  in  Elkinstown,  a 
distance  of  about  eighteen  miles.  Up  to  the  morning 
of  their  departure  from  Athens  the  weather  had  been 
cold  and  the  deep  snow  had  been  hard  enough  to  bear  up 
a  two-horse  team.  Unfortunately,  the  weather  had 
become  much  warmer  and  the  horses  slumped  badly. 
Articles  of  furniture  were  thrown  off  by  the  wayside 
from  time  to  time  to  lighten  the  load.  They  pressed 
resolutely  onward  until  they  reached  the  site  of  the 
present   town   of    Ripley   where   night  overtook   them. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  89 

Too  much  fatigued  to  continue  the  unequal  struggle 
they  determined  to  cease  further  efforts  until  strength 
and  courage  should  be  i*enewed  by  a  night's  rest.  There 
was  no  attractive  hotel  to  offer  them  entertainment  nor 
even  a  settler's  cabin  to  invite  them  to  its  friendly 
shelter.  A  little  shelter  of  poles  and  evergreen  boughs 
was  hastily  built.  A  bed  of  boughs  covered  with 
blankets  they  had  with  them  afforded  a  comfortable  rest- 
ing place  for  the  night.  The  following  morning  opened 
brightly  but  bore  with  it  unmistakable  indications  of 
continued  warm  weather.  A  frugal  breakfast  was  hastily 
prepared  and  eaten.  The  family  was  making  prepara- 
tions to  continue  its  journey,  when,  to  their  utter  dis- 
may, the  teamster  informed  them  that  it  was  useless  to 
attempt  farther  progress  with  team,  and  that  he  should 
turn  it  towards  home.  Neither  entreaty  nor  expostu- 
lation availed  to  change  his  determination.  Throwing 
off  what  remained  of  his  load  he  abruptly  left  them  in  a 
limitless  sea  of  snow.  The  family  embraced  the  father, 
mother,  an  infant  son  in  his  mother's  arms  and  five 
daughters  ranging  from  four  to  fourteen  years  of  «ige. 
This  was  not  promising  material  for  a  forward  move- 
ment, but  Mr.  Mitchell  was  a  man  of  resolute  courage, 
and  in  this  respect  Mrs.  Mitchell  was  not  a  whit  inferior 
to  her  husband.  A  forward  movement  was  promptly 
begtm.  The  three  older  girls  were  strong  and  resolute, 
needing  but  little  assistance  save  occasionally  to  rescue  a 
shoe  imbedded  in  the  deep,  damp  snow,  from  which  the 
foot  had  been  drawn  in  the  attempt  to  regain  the  sur- 
face. Mrs.  Mitchell  was  fully  equal  to  the  task  of  bearing 
forward  her  infant  son.  The  transportation  of  the  two 
younger  girls  remained  to  be  provided  for.  Mr.  Mitchell 
must  carry  them,  but  could  not  carry  them  both  through 
the  deep  snow  at  once.  He  was  a  man  of  expedients  as 
well  as  courage  and  quickly  solved  the  difficulty.      The 


90  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

family  was  now  ready  for  a  forward  movement  which  was 
executed  as  follows :  Leaving  Mrs.  Mitchell,  the  baby 
and  the  youngest  daughter  upon  the  bed  of  boughs, 
which  had  been  their  resting  place  during  the  night,  he 
took  the  next  younger  girl  in  his  arms  and  accompanied 
by  the  older  girls,  he  moved  forward  a  half  mile,  where 
he  left  them  as  the  first  installment  of  the  party. 
Returning  to  the  starting  point,  he  conducted  Mrs. 
MitcheU  with  the  baby  in  her  arms  to  the  place  where 
the  first  installment  had  been  left,  carrying  the  youngest 
girl  in  his  arms.  The  regularity  and  success  of  the  first 
advance  inspired  something  akin  to  military  enthusiasm. 
Subsequent  movements  of  the  same  character  brought 
them  to  the  residence  of  John  Tucker  in  Elkinstown, 
which  was  on  the  hill  a  little  west  of  the  present  village 
of  Dexter.  In  getting  his  family  forward  five  miles  Mr. 
Mitchell  had  travelled  fifteen,  miles  in  marching  and 
counter- marching.  It  was  near  night  when  the  tired 
family  reached  the  residence  of  Mr.  Tucker,  where  they 
remained  three  days  and  were  treated  with  the  hospitality 
characteristic  of  the  times.  During  this  time  the 
weather  became  colder,  and  a  hard  crust  forming  on  the 
surface  of  the  snow,  Mr.  Mitchell  collected  the  goods 
which  had  been  thrown  from  the  load  on  the  first  day  and 
hauled  them  to  Ripley  on  a  hand-sled.  On  the  fourth 
day  they  moved  into  their  own  log-cabin  by  the  brook 
which  had  been  built  the  preceding  autumn.  Our 
former  much  esteemed  resident,  the  late  Mrs.  N.  P. 
Smith,  was  one  of  the  girls  that  participated  in  the 
hardships  of  that  remarkable  journey  from  Athens  to 
Elkinstown  in  1803. 

The  robust  personality  of  the  late  Mordecai  Mitchell, 
an  esteemed  and  prominent  citizen  of  Dover,  was  evolved 
from  the  babe  that  Mrs.  Mitchell  carried  in  her  arms  from 
Ripley  to  Dexter.      Mrs.  Smith  kindly  communicated  to 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  91 

the  writer  various  particulars  relating  to  their  pioneer  life 
in  the  wilds  of  Elkinstown.  Her  father's  family  was  the 
fifth  to  take  up  a  residence  in  that  township.  They 
lived  in  a  log-cabin  within  which  was  the  traditional 
stone  fire-place.  This  was  made  to  do  service  both  in 
warming  and  cooking.  Their  nearest  neighbors  were 
the  families  of  Seba  French  of  Elkinstown,  who  moved 
into  the  township  a  little  later  than  her  father,  and 
Joseph  Garland  of  Lincolntown.  These  families  were 
bound  together  by  the  closest  ties  of  friendship — a 
friendship  based  upon  common  experiences  of  hardship, 
loneliness  and  similarity  of  disposition  and  religious 
faith. 

The  Mitchell  and  Garland  families  lived  four  miles 
apart,  but  this  was  no  obstacle  to  a  frequent  interchange 
of  visits  by  Mrs.  Mitchell  and  Mrs.  Garland.  A  horse- 
back ride,  guided  by  spotted  lines,  brought  them  often 
together,  and  in  the  absence  of  a  horse  the  distance 
was  made  on  foot.  Mrs.  Smith  furnished  an  interesting 
account  of  their  mode  of  living  while  at  Elkinstown 
and  of  the  privations  and  hardships  they  endured.  Mr. 
Mitchell  spent  his  winters  in  teaching,  during  which 
Mrs.  Mitchell  was  left  in  the  lonely  cabin  with  the  care 
of  her  large  family  of  young  children.  On  these  occa- 
sions she  exhibited  a  degree  of  courage  and  fortitude 
seldom  surpassed.  If  her  husband  could  be  useful  by 
giving  instruction  to  the  children  of  the  scattered  settle- 
ments and  at  the  same  time,  earn  something  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  family  in  its  straitened  circumstances,  she 
was  not  the  woman  to  interpose  objections.  Teachers 
were  then  paid  for  their  services  in  corn,  wheat  and  rye 
at  prices  fixed  by  custom.  The  food  supply  of  the 
family  was  of  the  most  simple  character.  They,  in 
common  with  their  neighbors,  kept  a  cow,  a  pig  and  a 
few  fowls.      For  a  year  or  two  they  procured  their  bread 


92  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

supply  from  Cornville.  When  they  began  to  raise  crops 
they  got  their  milling  done  at  Cornville,  eighteen  miles 
away.  Their  cooking  was  done  by  an  open  fire.  Among 
their  luxuries  were  roasted  potatoes  in  milk,  hominy  (a 
coarse  meal  from  new  corn)  with  a  maple  syrup  accom- 
paniment— samp  (corn  in  the  milk  cut  from  the  cob  and 
eaten  in  milk).  Their  everyday  bill  of  fare  was — for 
breakfast — corn  and  rye  bread,  or  milk  porridge  and 
hasty  pudding.  Their  suppers  were  much  like  their 
breakfasts.  Their  dinners  were  of  pork  and  potatoes, 
the  latter  being  the  largest  factor  of  the  meal.  Wheat 
bread  was  seldom  seen.  At  barn  raisings  a  few  years 
later,  pork  and  potatoes,  pork  and  beans,  brown  bread, 
Indian  puddings  and  pumpkin  pies  were  the  appropriate 
articles  of  food. 

Their  beverages  were  water,  milk,  crust  coffee  and  a 
drink  made  of  a  root  found  in  the  forest.  They  very 
seldom  had  the  satisfaction  of  inhaling  the  odor  of  the 
real  tea  which  women  so  highly  prize.  The  substitutes 
for  tea  were  sage,  balm  and  raspberry  leaves. 

It  was  customai:y  for  the  women  to  assist  in  the 
lighter  farm  work.  They  cultivated  the  flax  plant, 
which  entered  largely  into  the  clothing  of  both  men  and 
women.  They  sowed  the  seed,  and  cared  for  the  plant 
until  it  came  to  maturity.  Mrs.  Mitchell  was  accus- 
tomed to  spin  and  weave  its  long,  strong  fibers  into 
shirting  and  send  it  to  Bangor  for  sale.  She  also  pur- 
chased cotton  in  Bangor,  spun  and  wove  it  into  cloth 
and  returned  it  to  the  same  place  where  it  was  sold  at 
50  cents  per  yard.  The  travel  to  Bangor  was  on  horseback. 
The  amusement  of  the  children  was  simple  and  health- 
ful. They  basked  in  the  sunlight  that  straggled  through 
the  tree  tops.  They  watched  with  never  tiring  interest 
the  nimble  movements  of  the  squirrel,  now  running  with 
surprising    celerity    through  the  tree  tops — now  disap- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  93 

pearing  in  the  foliage  and  directly  chattering  defiance 
from  some  distant  point.  They  listened  to  the  "joyous 
music"  of  the  little  brook  as  it  ran  past  their  humble 
cabin  over  the  stones  and  shallows.  The  little  brook 
trout  were  a  great  attraction  to  them  as  they  darted 
from  one  hiding  place  to  another,  and  if  perchance  they 
caught  one  with  a  pin  hook  it  was  a  brilliant  achieve- 
ment, for  hath  not  the  poet  said, 

**0h  what  are  the  honors  men  perish  to  win 
To  the  first  little  shiner  I  caught  with  a  pin?'* 

In  autumn,  like  their  squirrel  neighboi*s,  they  gath- 
ered beechnuts  to  store  for  the  winter.  They  "lived 
close  to  Nature's  heart"  and  their  days  and  weeks  were 
replete  with  health  and  contentment. 

Mrs.  Mitchell  was  a  women  of  strong  religious  pro- 
clivities. Upon  the  advent  of  the  family  of  Seba 
French  she  found  a  kindred  nature  in  the  person  of  Mrs. 
French.  After  a  brief  acquaintance,  the  two  women 
selected  a  spot  midway  between  the  two  houses  where 
they  met  at  stated  times  for  conference  and  prayer. 
This  was,  perhaps,  the  first  prayer-meeting  instituted  in 
the  present  town  of  Dexter. 

In  the  year  1809  Mr.  Mitchell  removed  his  family 
to  township  number  three  in  the  sixth  range  of  town- 
ships north  of  the  Waldo  Patent,  now  Dover.  He  set- 
tled upon  the  lot  which  afterwards  became  the  home- 
stead of  his  son,  Mordecai  Mitchell.  He  had  felled  and 
burned  over  ten  acres  of  trees  the  previous  summer. 
His  first  work  after  reaching  the  new  township  was  the 
building  of  a  cabin  for  the  shelter  of  his  family.  This 
accomplished  he  commenced  clearing  the  burned  piece 
for  the  crops  of  the  season.  During  his  first  day's  work 
he  inflicted  a  wound  upon  one  of  his  feet  with  his  axe 
which  incapacitated  him  for  further  labor  through  the 


94  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

spring.  But  his  wife  and  daughters  with  characteristic 
resolution,  aided  by  a  hired  man,  prosecuted  the  work 
that  had  been  so  suddenly  arrested  and  raised  sixty 
bushels  of  wheat  and  other  crops  that  entered  into  the 
food  supply  of  the  family. 

When  the  Mitchell  family  had  become  established  at 
Dover  Mrs.  Mitchell,  at  the  solicitation  of  a  prominent 
citizen  of  the  vicinity,  held  religious  services  on  the  Sab- 
bath. Mr.  Mitchell,  not  being  professionally  a  religious 
man,  his  wife  conducted  the  devotional  exercises  and  he 
led  the  singing  and  read  a  sermon  or  religious  literature. 
These  were  the  first  religious  meetings  held  in  what  are 
now  the  villages  of  Dover  and  Foxcroft. 

Mrs.  N.  P.  Smith,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Mitchell,  to 
whom  allusion  has  been  made,  married  a  Mr.  Bradbury, 
a  business  man  of  Piscataquis  County,  who  died  early, 
leaving  his  wife  with  the  care  of  one  daughter  and  two 
sons. 

A  few  years  later  Mrs.  Bradbury  married  Deacon 
Stephen  Smith  of  Garland,  where  she  immediately  took 
up  her  residence.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were 
four  daughters  —  Matilda,  Caroline,  Henrietta  and 
Hannah,  who  died  in  early  childhood.  Mrs.  Smith's 
earlier  years  in  Garland  were  not  entirely  devoid  of  pri- 
vation. Lewis  Bradbury,  the  younger  son  of  her  first 
husband,  went  to  the  Pacific  coast  about  the  year  1850, 
where  in  course  of  time  he  became  wealthy,  and  to  his 
credit  it  may  be  said,  he  remembered  his  mother  and 
supplied  her  abundantly  with  money.  From  this  time 
onward  she  had  no  occasion  for  anxiety  about  the  future 
support  of  herself  and  family. 

Her  daughter  Caroline  went  to  California  in  1859 
with  a  lady  friend  to  seek  employment  as  a  teacher.  A 
few  years  later  she  married  and  became  the  mistress  of  a 
home   of   her  own.      Deacon    Smith   died    in    Garland, 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  95 

July  15,  1866.  In  1873,  Mrs.  Smith,  with  her  daugh- 
ters, Matilda  and  Henrietta,  moved  to  California  where 
they  enjoyed  the  comforts  of  a  modem  home  provided 
by  her  son,  Lewis  Bradbury.  Here,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  her  older  children,  and  blessed  by  the  constant  pres- 
ence and  tender  care  of  her  younger  daughters,  her  later 
years  were  years  of  ease  and  comfort.  She  had  also  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  her  daughters  were  passing 
lives  of  much  usefulness.  While  living  in  Garland,  Mrs. 
Smith  was  an  active  member  of  the  Congregational 
church.  On  a  beautiful  Sabbath  morning,  near  the  close 
of  her  residence  in  Garland,  the  churchgoers  were  sur- 
prised and  delighted  at  the  presence  upon  the  table  in 
front  of  the  pulpit  of  an  attractive  silver  communion 
service,  her  parting  gift  to  the  people  she  loved  so  well. 
She  also  left  a  sum  of  money  in  the  hands  of  her  revered 
pastor.  Rev.  P.  B.  Thayer,  to  be  distributed  to  the 
poorer  members  of  the  church  in  case  of  sickness  or 
want. 

Mrs.  Smith's  father,  William  MitcheU,  Garland's 
first  schoolmaster,  died  in  Garland,  May  23,  1842,  at 
the  age  of  72  years.  Her  mother  died  in  Garland 
December  19,  1853,  at  the  age  of  84. 


Early  Marriages 

The  first  marriage  celebrated  in  the  township  is 
believed  to  have  been  that  of  John  Knight  to  Agnes 
Grant  in  1803.  In  1804,  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Betsey  Murray  of  Rutland, 
Mass.,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Murray.  In  1805, 
Josiah   Bartlett,   afterwards  known    as    Elder   Bartlett, 


96  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

was  married  to  Sarah  Kimball,  daughter  of  Andrew 
Kimball  of  Belgrade,  Maine. 

In  1806,  William  Godwin  married  Nancy  Gordon  of 
Lincoln  town.  The  marriage  of  John  Hayes  to  Martha 
Fifield,  both  of  Garland,  occurred  in  1806.  Isaac 
Wheeler,  Esq.,  commenced  housekeeping  soon  after  his 
marriage  in  a  log-cabin  that  occupied  the  site  next  to 
the  Free  Baptist  church.  He  soon  afterwards  built  a 
house  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  heirs  of  the  late 
William  B.  Foss. 

It  was  in  1807  that  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  and  his  wife 
made  their  first  visit  to  their  old  homes  in  Rutland, 
Mass.  They  took  their  two  children  with  them  on  horse- 
back to  Bangor  and  thence  to  Boston  by  water.  One  of 
these  children  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Charles  P. 
Chandler  of  Foxcroft,  Maine ;  a  lawyer  of  much  promi- 
nence in  Piscataquis  County. 

On  their  return  to  Lincolntown,  they  were  accompa- 
nied by  Elisabeth  Murray,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Wheeler, 
who  soon  after  became  the  wife  of  John  S.  Haskell. 
From  this  marriage  sprang  a  large  family  of  children 
who,  in  after  years,  became  prominent  citizens  of  Gar- 
land. 

Th^  marriage  of  William  Sargent  to  Lucretia  Kimball 
occurred  in  1807.  Mr.  Sargent  lived  on  the  place  now 
occupied  by  James  Rideout. 


The  Township  in  1807 

But  few  events  of  importance  to  the  township  occurred 
in  1807.  Men  who  had  made  beginnings  at  an  earher 
date  were  enlarging  the  area  of  their  cleared  lands,  erect- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  97 

ing  buildings  and  making  improvements.  John  S. 
Haskell,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  early  set- 
tlers, built  a  small  house  and  barn  this  year,  and  was 
married  and  commenced  housekeeping. 

Jeremiah  Flanders  from  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  whose 
visits  to  the  township  in  1804  and  1805  have  been 
noted,  purchased  lot  eleven,  range  six,  this  year  and 
made  a  beginning  on  it.  He  built  a  log  camp  close  by 
the  brook  near  where  William  Jones  now  lives  and  occu- 
pied it  while  preparing  for  a  future  home. 

William  Dustin  moved  into  the  township  this  year, 
and  lived  in  the  log  house  upon  the  lot  he  had  purchased 
a  year  earlier  of  Philip  Greeley. 


The  First   Blacksmith 

Several  of  the  most  useful  trades  had  representatives 
in  the  township  as  early  as  1805,  but  it  was  still  desti- 
tute of  a  blacksmith.  The  year  1807  contributed  a 
representative  of  this  useful  trade  to  the  township  in  the 
person  of  Andrew  Kimball  of  Belgrade,  Maine.  Mr. 
Kimball  had  at  this  time  three  daughters  here — Mrs. 
James  McCluer,  Mrs.  Josiah  Bartlett  and  Mrs.  WiUiam 
Sargent.  These  were  the  attractions  that  lured  him 
thither.  The  settlers  of  a  township  can  get  along  with- 
out gold  and  silver  but  not  without  iron.  The  latter 
is,  in  some  form,  a  necessary  factor  of  civilization,  and 
the  worker  of  iron  is  esteemed  as  one  of  the  most  useful 
of  citizens.  The  coming  of  Mr.  Kimball  was,  therefore, 
hailed  with  great  satisfaction,  but  his  usefulness  was 
greatly  abridged  by  the  want  of  tools  and  stock. 

The  scant  supply  of  necessary  materials,  and  the  rude 


98  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

character  of  the  tools  and  fixtures  used  by  the  black- 
smiths, at  the  opening  of  the  present  century,  were  not 
unfrequently  the  occasion  for  merriment.  A  man  of 
this  trade  came  into  a  neighboring  township  to  set  up  in 
business.  He  made  a  crib  of  the  requisite  size  of  logs 
and  filled  it  with  sand  for  a  forge,  put  his  bellows  in 
position,  adjusted  his  anvil  to  the  top  of  a  stump,  and 
with  no  suggestion  of  a  covering  save  the  moving  tree- 
tops,  announced  himself  ready  for  business. 

Shortly  after,  a  stranger  who  was  riding  through  the 
township  on  horseback,  lost  a  shoe  from  his  horse. 
Meeting  a  resident,  he  inquired  for  a  blacksmith  shop. 
The  instant  reply  was — "Why  bless  you,  Sir,  you  are 
in  a  blacksmith  shop  now,  but  it's  three  miles  to  the 
anvil."  Then,  with  the  utmost  gravity,  he  directed  the 
stranger  to  the  distant  anvil. 

Mr.  Kimball's  shop  was  of  smaller  dimensions.  It 
was  a  rude  structure  of  slabs,  located  on  the  brow  of  the 
village  saw-mill.  Here  he  shod  horses  and  oxen,  mended 
plows  and  chains  and  did  numerous  jobs  of  making  and 
repairing  that  came  within  the  range  of  his  facilities  for 
doing. 

A  little  later,  he  built  a  larger  and  more  convenient 
shop  on  the  little  island  just  below  the  site  of  the  grist- 
mill owned  by  Edward  Washburn.  Like  others  of  his 
trade,  Mr.  Kimball  was  often  obliged  to  resort  to  make- 
shifts to  meet  the  wants  of  his  patrons.  Some  of  these 
would  hardly  accord  with  ideas  of  the  professional  farrier 
of  the  present  time.  On  one  occasion  he  had  business 
in  Bangor,  and  must  go  on  foot  or  horseback.  By  dint 
of  effort  he  procured  a  shoeless  horse,  but  a  horse  with- 
out shoes  might  prove  a  dangerous  horse  to  ride. 
Although  Mr.  Kimball  had  forged  many  a  horseshoe, 
successful  work  of  this  kind  required  iron,  and  of  that 
he  had  none.      In  a  pile  of  rubbish  in  a  corner  he  found 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  99 

a  set  of  OX- shoes  that  had  been  thrown  aside  as  worth- 
less. Shaping  these  to  meet  the  exigency,  he  nailed  two 
to  each  foot  of  the  horse.  Thus  equipped,  he  made  his 
trip  to  Bangor,  accomplished  his  business  and  reached 
home  in  due  time  without  accident. 

Pi-evious  to  the  coming  of  Mr.  Kimball,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Lincolntown  were  obliged  to  go  to  Simon 
Prescott's  shop  in  New  Ohio  (Corinth)  to  get  their  iron 
work  done.  This  involved  inconvenience,  loss  of  time 
and  increased  expense.  Mr.  Prescott's  price  for  shoeing 
a  horse  was  two  dollars. 


The  Township  in  1808 

In  the  year  1808,  only  one  family  so  far  as  is  now 
known,  established  a  residence  in  the  township.  This  was 
the  family  of  Abner  Bond,  who  made  a  beginning  on  lot 
seven,  range  eight. 

Our  weU-remembered  citizen,  Aaron  Hill  of  Bangor, 
followed  Mr.  Bond  on  the  same  lot  where  he  built  and 
lived  for  many  years.  The  farm  is  now  owned  by  Davis 
and  Walker  brothers.  The  date  of  the  transfer  of  this 
place  from  Mr.  Bond  to  Mr.  Hill  was  1823.  The  latter 
married  and  began  housekeeping  in  1826. 

The  year  1808  marks  the  date  of  the  birth  of  several 
children  who  afterwards  became  prominent  citizens  of 
the  town  of  Garland.  Among  these  were  the  late 
Daniel  M.  Haskell  and  Horace  Gordon. 

Joseph  Tread  well,  who  had  built  the  first  framed 
house  in  the  township  for  John  Tyler,  and  had  occupied 
it  with  Mr.  Tyler  for  several  years,  built  a  house  for 
himself  on  lot  four,  range  seven,  in  1808,  where  he 
lived  for  many  years.      His  twelve-years-old  son,  the  late 


100  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

John  Treadwell,  carried  the  heavy  brown  ash  braces  that 
were  used  in  the  frame,  from  the  spot  where  they  were 
hewn,  to  the  site  of  the  house,  upon  his  shoulder.  John 
Treadwell  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  this  farm.  It 
is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Joseph  Treadwell,  the 
grandson  of  the  original  resident.  The  house  is  one  of 
the  oldest  now  standing.  This  is  one  of  the  few 
instances  where  the  original  homestead  remains  in  the 
line  of  family  descent. 


The  Township  in  1809 

The  population  of  the  township  was  increased  in  1809 
by  the  incoming  of  several  families  who  settled  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  it.  Asa  Burnham  from  Nottingham,  N. 
H.,  settled  on  lot  one,  range  eight.  It  is  not  probable 
that  he  remained  long  in  the  township  as  his  name  does 
not  appear  on  the  first  voting  list  prepared  three  years 
later.  He  became  well  known  in  this  section  as  a 
devoted  and  esteemed  minister  of  the  Freewill  Baptist 
denomination,  preaching  at  various  places,  including 
Exeter  and  Sebec. 

A  little  later,  Robert  Seward,  afterwards  known  as 
Deacon  Robert  Seward,  purchased  this  lot  and  lived  on 
it  until  the  year  1860,  when  he  sold  it  and  moved  to 
Bangor.  While  living  upon  this  lot  he  erected  build- 
ings, added  to,  enlarged  and  improved  them  from  time 
to  time  as  convenience  required,  and  his  means  allowed. 
He  was  also  diligent  in  the  improvement  of  his  farm, 
which  became  at  length  one  of  the  most  productive  in 
the  town.  His  choice  of  location  has  sometimes  been 
criticised  somewhat    sharply  because  it  was  a  half  mile 


HISTORY    OF    6AELAND,     MAINE  101 

away  from  any  established  road.  Two  strangers 
appeared  in  town  at  a  recent  date,  who  were  in  pursuit 
of  farms.  They  were  directed  to  the  Seward  farm.  A 
little  later  they  were  seen  and  asked  how  they  liked  the 
Seward  farm.  They  replied  that  they  "liked  the  farm 
well  but  they  did  not  care  to  live  in  a  British  Province. ' ' 
But  when  Deacon  Seward  made  his  selection,  there 
seemed  a  strong  probability  that  a  county  roaul  from 
Bangor  into  the  Piscataquis  region  would  pass  across  his 
farm,  and  the  location  of  his  buildings  was  determined 
by  the  expectation  that  this  probability  would  become 
fact.  The  Seward  farm  was  purchased  by  Clark 
Richardson  in  1860,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in 
1910. 

Jeremiah  Flanders  from  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  having 
purchased  lot  eleven,  range  six,  in  1807,  and  having 
subsequently  cleared  land  and  built  a  house  upon  it, 
married  a  wife  in  1809  and  commenced  housekeeping. 
He  occupied  this  house  until  about  the  year  1822,  when 
he  built  a  two  story  house  which  was  among  the  first  two 
story  buildings  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Flanders  improved  his  farm  from  year  to  year 
until  it  became  a  productive  one.  It  is  now  occupied 
by  Edwin  Preble. 

Mrs.  Flanders  was  fuicustomed  to  repair  to  a  log  camp, 
which  her  husband  had  built  two  years  earlier,  to  do 
her  weekly  washing.  The  camp  occupied  a  site  at  the 
foot  of  the  slope  close  by  the  brook  east  of  the  house 
where  Edwin  Preble  now  lives.  On  one  occasion  a  down- 
pour of  rain  through  the  capacious  chimney  of  sticks 
and  mortar  put  out  the  fire.  A  neighbor's  boy,  who 
was  making  a  friendly  call,  was  sent  a  half  mile  to  get 
fire  to  rekindle  with.  That  was  before  the  invention  of 
friction  matches.  It  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  send  to 
a  neighbor's  house  for  coals  of  fire  to  kindle  anew. 


102  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Samuel  Mansfield  purchased  a  part  of  lot  eight,  in 
range  eight,  in  1809,  and  became  a  resident  of  the  town- 
ship the  same  year,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  July  3d,  1856. 

Hollis  Mansfield,  a  son  of  Samuel  Mansfield,  lived 
with  his  father  several  years,  but  his  death  occurred 
before  that  of  his  father.      He  died  in  1847. 

The  old  homestead  remains  in  the  line  of  the  family 
descent,  being  owned  by  Henry  Mansfield,  a  grandson  of 
Samuel,  who  still  occupies  it. 

Andrew  Griffin,  the  first  tanner  and  shoemaker  of  the 
township,  became  dissatisfied  with  his  prospects  and  sold 
his  property  rights  and  business  to  Simeon  Morgan  of 
Elkinstown  in  1809,  and  moved  to  Levant.  Mr.  Morgan 
soon  moved  into  the  house  vacated  by  Mr.  Griffin.  Mr. 
Griffin  was  the  first  resident  to  leave  the  township  after 
having  established  a  home  in  it. 


A  Notable  Barn 

In  the  year  1809,  John  Chandler  built  a  barn  on  the 
site  of  his  original  buildings,  eighty  feet  long  and  forty- 
four  feet  wide.  This  was  only  eight  years  after  the  ring 
of  the  settler's  axe  had  first  been  heard  in  the  township, 
and  seven  years  from  the  harvesting  of  the  first  crop. 
Up  to  this  time  the  inhabitants  had  as  a  rule  provided 
themselves  with  some  cheap  substitute  for  a  barn. 

This  barn,  towering  from  an  elevated  site  in  the 
Chandler  opening,  like  the  school  boy's  exclamation 
point,  excited  wonder  and  surprise  in  the  minds  of  many. 
Others  were  filled  with  admiration  of  the  courage  that 
carried  its  conception  to  a  successful  result,  and  of  the 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  103 

faith  that  led  to  the  expectation  that  the  barn  would 
ever  be  filled  with  crops. 

In  the  construction  of  the  barn,  Seba  French,  after- 
wards known  as  Judge  French  of  Dexter,  was  the  master 
carpenter.  The  nails  used  in  its  construction  were 
wrought  by  the  hand  of  a  common  blacksmith.  Some 
of  them  have  been  preserved  as  curious  relics  of  the 
morning  of  the  present  century. 


A  More  Notable  Barn 

John  Chandler  and  Edward  Fifield  emigrated  to  the 
township  in  1805 — the  former  from  Hopkinton,  N.  H., 
and  the  latter  from  Ware.  They  had  known  each 
other  in  New  Hampshire. 

There  appears  to  have  been  a  spirit  of  rivalry  between 
the  two  men.  It  was  generally  known  in  the  township 
that  each  intended  to  build  a  barn  of  unusual  size. 
Both  were  uncommunicative  about  dimensions.  When 
Mr.  Fifield  was  questioned  about  the  size  of  his  pro- 
spective barn,  his  uniform  reply  was — "I  shall  wait  until 
Chandler  builds  and  then  build  a  larger  barn  than  his." 

In  1809,  Mr.  Chandler  took  the  initiative  and  built 
so  large  that  he  believed  no  sane  man  would  attempt  to 
outdo  him,  but  he  misjudged.  Mr.  Fifield  was  firm  in 
his  determination  to  surpass  his  neighbors  in  the  number 
and  size  of  his  buildings  as  well  as  in  the  extent  of  his 
fields  and  crops.  He  was  still  uncommunicative  about 
the  size  of  his  intended  barn,  but  assured  inquirers  that 
it  would  be  larger  than  Chandler's,  and  that  the  frame 
would  contain  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  braces  to  cor- 
respond to  the  number  of  days  in  the  year. 


104  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Soon  after,  Mr.  Fifield  gratified  the  curiosity  of  his 
neighbors  with  the  sight  of  a  veritable  barn  one  hundred 
and  twenty  feet  long  by  forty-four  feet  wide.  Like 
the  Chandler  barn  it  occupied  an  elevated  site,  and  when, 
years  later,  the  surrounding  forests  were  cleared  away, 
it  was  seen  for  long  distances.  It  was  claimed  to  be  the 
largest  barn  in  the  State  at  the  date  of  its  construction. 
Seba  French  of  Dexter  was  the  master  builder. 

The  raising  of  the  building  was  an  occasion  long 
remembered.  The  country  for  miles  around  was  scoured 
for  assistance.  The  flow  of  the  favorite  New  England 
beverage  was  commensurate  with  the  greatness  of  the 
building.  There  are  vague  traditionary  rumors  that  the 
men  did  not  all  get  home  with  whole  suits.  As  an  inci- 
dent of  the  occasion  no  use  was  found  for  the  365th 
brace,  a  discovery  that  was  followed  by  a  boisterous 
laugh  from  the  jubilant  crowd  and  a  demand  for  an  extra 
treat. 


A  Remarkable  Journey  in  1809 

Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  and  his  brother-in-law,  John  S. 
Haskell,  planned  a  visit,  with  their  wives,  to  relatives  in 
Rutland,  Mass.,  in  the  autumn  of  1809.  Their  com- 
pany included  one  little  boy  of  tender  age  for  each 
couple.  There  were  at  that  time  neither  roads  nor  car- 
riages in  the  township  or  vicinity.  The  only  practicable 
alternative  was  to  make  the  journey  partly  on  horse- 
back. The  pioneers  of  eastern  Maine  did  not  allow 
trifling  obstacles  to  deter  them  from  the  execution  of 
cherished  plans.  Each  couple  took  its  one  small  boy  on- 
to the  horse  with  them,  making  a  company  of  six  to  be 


HISTOEY    OF    GAULAND,     MAINE  105 

carried  on  two  horses.  Thus  mounted,  they  jogged 
leisurely  along  to  Winthrop,  a  few  miles  beyond  Augusta. 
Here  they  hired  a  two-seated  carriage  to  which  they 
hitched  the  two  horses,  and  performed  the  remainder  of 
their  journey  in  luxuriant  ease. 

The  return  journey  was  accomplished  in  the  same 
manner.  The  two  boys  grew  to  the  stature  of  men. 
One  of  them,  Reuben  Wheeler,  died  in  early  manhood, 
esteemed  by  all  who  were  favored  with  his  acquaintance. 
The  other,  Daniel  Murray  Haskell,  lived  to  a  good 
old  age,  a  citizen  whose  personal  qualities  were  worthy 
of  imitation  by  the  generations  that  followed  him. 


The  First  Death  in  the  Township 

On  the  20th  day  of  November,  1809,  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Polly  Fifield,  wife  of  Edward  Fifield,  occurred. 
This  being  the  first  death  among  the  little  band  of  set- 
tlers, it  was  the  occasion  of  peculiar  sadness  throughout 
the  township.  Mrs.  Fifield  had  the  faithful  services  of 
Dr.  Peabody  of  Corinth.  The  funeral  services  were  con- 
ducted by  a  clergyman  from  Corinth. 


The  Township  in  1810 

Sampson  Silver  came  into  the  township  first  in  1804 
in  the  employment  of  Amos  Gordon.  In  1805,  he  came 
again  and  worked  for  John  Chandler.  During  this  year, 
he  purchased  of  Amos  Gordon  a  part  of  lot  ten,  range 
five,  felled  two  acres  of  trees  and  erected  buildings.      In 


106  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

1810  he  married  and  commenced  housekeeping.  Mr. 
Silver's  old  homestead  was  later  the  home  of  Albert  G. 
and  Parker  Gordon. 

Isaac  Copeland,  who  had  purchased  the  westerly  part 
of  lot  eleven,  range  five,  of  John  S.  Haskell,  and  had 
felled  an  opening  on  it  in  1809,  built  a  house  in  1810 
and  moved  his  family  into  it  in  the  autumn  of  the  latter 
year.  He  had  previously  lived  in  Elkinstown.  His 
place  was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  for  many  years 
by  the  late  Stephen  D.  Jennings,  and  passed  from  him 
into  the  hands  of  his  son,  Mark  C.  Jennings. 

Cutteon  Flanders,  a  brother  of  Jeremiah  Flanders, 
emigrated  from  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  in  1810  and  settled 
on  the  lot  afterwards  owned  by  Asa  H.  Sawtelle,  and 
now  owned  by  John  Hayden. 

Ezekiel  Straw  emigrated  to  the  township  from  New 
Hampshire  in  1810,  and  purchased  lot  seven,  range 
seven.  Two  years  later,  having  made  a  clearing  and 
built  a  house,  he  married  and  commenced  housekeeping. 
Mr.  Straw's  old  homestead  is  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Lionel  Lincoln. 

The  Rev.  John  Sawyer  made  a  beginning  on  lot  six, 
range  ten,  in  1810,  and  resided  there  for  several  years. 
The  old  Sawyer  homestead  was  subsequently  owned  and 
occupied  in  turn  by  Edward  Fifield  and  I.  A.  Palmer. 
It  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  D.  F.  Patten. 

Mr.  Sawyer's  first  visit  to  the  township  was  in  1809, 
when  he  bore  with  him  a  commission  from  the  Maine 
Missionary  Society  for  a  few  weeks'  service. 

This  society  had  been  organized  only  a  single  year  at 
that  time.  Mr.  Sawyer  was  among  its  earliest  missiona- 
ries. His  labors  here  created  a  deep  religious  interest 
and  resulted  in  the  organization  of  a  Congregational 
church,  the  third  organized  within  the  present  limits  of 
Penobscot    County — the  church  at  Dixmont  being    the 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  107 

first,  that  of  Brewer  the  second  and  Garland  the  third. 
The  early  history  of  the  Garland  Congregational  church, 
and  a  biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  Sawyer,  will  appear  in 
another  connection. 


A  Sorrowful  Event 

In  the  year  1810,  a  deeply  sorrowful  event  occurred  in 
the  township.  Joseph  Saunders  and  his  brother  Oliver 
were  felling  some  trees  for  timber  on  the  center  road 
running  east,  about  a  half  mile  east  of  the  center  of  the 
township.  A  tall  spruce  tree  which  they  were  chopping 
was  arrested  by  a  smaller  tree  as  it  began  to  move  slowly 
towards  the  ground.  Joseph  stepped  forward  to  weaken 
the  smaller  tree  by  a  few  blows  of  the  axe,  so  that  it 
might  yield  to  the  pressure  of  the  larger  tree  and  let  it 
fall  to  the  ground,  but  the  larger  tree  unexpectedly 
became  detached  from  the  smaller  and  fell  rapidly. 
Oliver,  seeing  his  brother's  peril,  warned  him  of  his 
danger,  but  it  was  too  late.  The  tree  in  its  downward 
movement  ciiished  one  of  his  legs.  Becoming  very 
faint,  he  begged  for  water.  His  brother  replied, 
'There  is  nothing  to  bring  it  in;"  when  he  instantly 
exclaimed,  **Bring  it  in  your  shoe!"  As  soon  as  assist- 
ance could  be  procured  he  was  removed  to  his  home. 
His  neighbors  believed  that  his  life  could  be  saved 
by  the  amputation  of  his  limb,  but  his  family  had  a 
supei*stitious  dread  of  the  dismemberment  of  the  human 
body  by  the  knife  and  saw,  and  he  soon  passed  away. 

He  was  a  young  man,  and  his  death  having  been  the 
first  that  had  occurred  by  accident,  was  a  severe  shock 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  township.      At  the  time  of  his 


108  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

death,  he  had  recently  made  a  profession  of  religion 
under  the  ministrations  of  the  Rev.  John  Sawyer.  Mr. 
Saunders  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Robert  Seward,  and  an 
uncle  of  Mrs.  Charles  E.   Merriam. 


The  First  Grist-Mill 

A  saw-mill  had  been  built  in  the  township  in  1802, 
the  year  from  which  its  settlement  dates.  The  prompt 
action  of  the  proprietors  in  providing  a  saw-mill  encour- 
aged emigration  to  the  township.  A  few  years  later 
a  set  of  stones  had  been  placed  in  the  basement  of  the 
saw-mill  for  grinding  corn  and  rye,  but  the  patrons  of 
this  very  imperfect  machinery  complained  of  an  undue 
percentage  of  sawdust  in  the  meal  thus  obtained,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  the  township  were  anxious  for  a  mill  that 
would  give  them  the  material  for  purer  food. 

The  Grant  family,  who  had  owned  and  run  the  saw- 
mill from  the  beginning,  had  become  involved  in  debt, 
and  were  in  no  condition  to  confer  upon  the  township 
the  boon  of  a  grist-mill.  In  1810,  the  ownership  of  the 
mill  property  was  transferred  to  Mr.  Sanger,  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  township,  to  satisfy  a  claim  he  had  on 
it.  Mr.  Sanger  soon  sold  it  to  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq., 
who  in  turn  sold  it  to  Mr.  Church  of  Clinton,  Maine. 
Mr.  Church  was  an  enterprising  man  and  a  skilled 
mechanic.  The  following  year  he  built  a  small  but  con- 
venient house  on  the  mill  brow,  west  of  the  site  of  the 
present  village  saw-mill,  and  moved  his  family  into  it. 
A  depression  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  still  reveals 
the  site  of  the  house. 

Having  provided  a  shelter  for  his  family,  he  built  a 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  109 

grist-mill  upon  the  site  of  the  present  grist-mill.  From 
a  block  of  granite  found  near  the  mill  he  fitted  a  run  of 
stones  with  his  o\^ti  hands,  and  performed  nearly  all  the 
labor  involved  in  the  construction  of  the  mill.  It  was 
accounted  a  good  mill  for  the  times,  and  was  patronized 
by  the  inhabitants  of  this  and  neighboring  townships. 

The  house  built  by  Mr.  Church  was  occupied  by  his 
own  family  as  long  as  he  remained  in  town.  It  was 
afterwards  occupied  by  Reuben  Bartlett,  who  emigrated 
to  Garland  from  Nottingham,  N.  H.,  about  the  year 
1819,  and  purchased  the  mill  property.  About  the  year 
1826,  he  built  the  more  commodious  house  now  owned 
by  Fred  Osgood,  and  sold  the  house  built  by  Mr.  Church 
to  Samuel  Johnson,  who  moved  it  to  the  site  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Eugene  French  house.  In  1829,  Benjamin 
H.  Oak  of  Exeter  purchased  this  house,  and  the  forty 
acres  of  land  connected  with  it  and  moved  into  it  in  the 
spring  of  1830,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1842. 
About  the  year  1844,  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Rev. 
Leonard  Hathaway,  who  took  it  down  to  give  place  to  a 
larger  and  better  house,  where  he  passed  the  remaining 
years  of  his  earthly  life. 


Death  of  the  First  Physician 

In  March,  1810,  Dr.  Joseph  Pratt,  the  first  physician 
of  the  township,  died  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Garland, 
where  he  had  boarded. 

Dr.  Pratt's  faithful  performance  of  his  professional 
duties,  and  his  ever  ready  sympathy  with  the  sick  and 
suffering,  gave  him  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people.  The  intelligence  of  his  death  spread  rapidly 
through  the  township,  carrying  grief  to  every  household. 


110  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Doctors    Peabody   of   Corinth    and   Skinner  of   Brewer 
were  his  attending  physicians.      The  funeral  services  were 
conducted    by  the  Rev.    John  Sawyer  at  the    house    of 
Joseph  Garland. 

His  disease  was  typhoid  fever.  He  was  buried  near 
the  present  residence  of  David  W.  Dearborn.  After  the 
Greeley  Cemetery  was  established,  he  was  disinterred  and 
buried  there.  Neither  stone  nor  other  monument  marks 
his  present  resting  place.  His  immediate  successor  was 
Dr.  James  Parker,  who  commenced  practice  here  in  the 
summer  of  1810,  and  was  the  second  physician  of  the 
township. 


Questionings 

Why  did  our  fathers  emigrate  to  this  barren  region 
where  frost  and  snow  hold  uninterrupted  sway  for  one 
half  the  year,  and  the  reluctant  soil  yields  its  inhabitants 
scanty  support  as  the  reward  of  resolute  and  unremitting 
toil.?  Why  did  they  not  seek  a  more  productive  soil 
under  summer  skies.?  These  questions  are  often  asked 
by  the  dwellers  of  eastern  Maine. 

The  early  settlers  of  Lincoln  township  were  mainly 
from  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts  and  the  western 
section  of  the  Province  of  Maine.  These  sections  had 
been  settled  many  years  and  the  best  lands  had  been 
appropriated.  As  a  rule  the  families  were  large  in  those 
days,  and  the  old  homes  had  become  like  overstocked 
hives.  The  grown-up  children  must  seek  new  homes  as 
their  fathers  and  mothers  had  done  in  years  gone  by. 
The  industrial  occupations  outside  of  agriculture  were 
limited  in  range. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  111 

The  manufacturing  industries  that  now  allure  young 
men  and  women  in  large  numbers  from  agricultural  pur- 
suits, had  no  existence  then.  The  Lewistons,  Law- 
rences, Lowells  and  Manchesters,  and  the  hundreds  of 
villages  where  factories  line  the  borders  of  their  streams 
and  rivers,  and  the  hum  of  whose  machinery  is  as 
incessant  as  the  roar  of  their  waterfalls,  are  creations  of 
a  later  date.  Commercial  employments,  house  carpen- 
try, ship  building  and  other  mechanical  industries,  all  on 
a  limited  scale,  with  the  additions  of  navigation  and 
fishing,  gave  employment  to  a  limited  number  of  people, 
but  the  great  mass  of  New  England  laborers  were 
obliged  to  draw  their  subsistence  from  the  heart  of 
Mother  Earth.  It  was  therefore  natural  for  young  men 
to  choose  the  employment  that  had  given  their  fathers 
the  means  of  support,  and  not  unfrequently,  had  made 
them  independent.  To  this  class  of  men,  lands  that 
were  cheap,  productive  and  accessible  were  the  desidera- 
tum. All  these  conditions  could  be  found  in  the 
easterly  section  of  the  Province  of  Maine. 

Land  could  be  purchased  at  low  prices,  and  of  its 
productiveness,  there  was  abundant  evidence.  The 
appearance  of  the  surface  soil  indicated  fertility.  One 
enthusiastic  prospector  from  New  Hampshire  filled  his 
tobacco  box  with  dark  rich  looking  loam  which,  on  his 
return  home,  he  exhibited  to  his  friends,  declaring  that 
it  would  make  good  pudding.  What  disposition  he 
made  of  his  tobacco  in  the  meantime  tradition  does  not 
inform  us.  The  character  of  the  forest  growth  indicated 
strength  of  soil.  More  conclusive  evidence  was  found  in 
the  large  crops  of  wheat,  rye  and  com  that  had  been 
raised  in  near  at  hand  townships  which  had  been  settled 
at  an  earlier  date. 

Inducements  of  another  character  were  presented  to 
allure    settlers.      The   best  statesmanship  of  Massachu- 


112  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

setts  had  been  employed  to  promote  the  settlement  of 
the  eastern  lands  of  that  state  by  the  adoption  of  a 
liberal  policy.  Reservations  of  land  had  been  made  in 
each  township  by  the  general  court  of  Massachusetts  to 
aid  in  the  support  of  the  institutions,  so  dear  to  New 
England  people — the  school  and  the  church;  a  policy 
which  attracted  a  good  class  of  emigrants.  Other  influ- 
ences attracted  other  classes  of  emigrants. 

Then,  as  now,  there  were  men  who,  being  repelled  by 
the  conventionalities  and  restraints  of  society,  were  car- 
ried on  the  current  of  emigration  to  the  outer  limits  of 
civilization.  There  were  also  men  who  sought  border 
life  to  gratify  their  propensity  for  hunting  and  fishing. 


Was  it  a  Misfortune? 

Such  has  been  the  remarkable  growth  of  the  western 
states  in  population  and  wealth  within  the  last  seventy- 
five  years,  that  many  a  worthy  citizen  of  Maine  has 
regarded  it  as  a  misfortune  that  our  fathers  did  not  emi- 
grate to  the  West  instead  of  Maine.  At  the  date  of 
the  earliest  settlements  of  this  section  of  Maine,  very 
little  was  known  of  the  *  'great  west. ' '  Ohio,  the  near- 
est western  state,  was  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness, 
at  a  great  distance  away.  The  difficulties  and  hardships 
involved  in  emigrating  to  Ohio  were  an  effectual  bar  to 
emigration  to  that  state,  where,  in  after  years,  so  many 
residents  of  Maine  emigrated  to  their  sorrow.  Sensible 
people  of  the  next  generation  had  but  little  reason  to 
regret  that  they  had  been  born  in  Maine.  If  the 
question  of  choice  had  related  to  the  relative  capacity  of 
contributing    to    the   food  supply  of   the  world,  Maine 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  118 

could  not  have  been  a  factor  in  the  case.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  question  had  related  to  the  type  of  men 
and  women  who  could  boast  of  Maine  nativity,  its  citi- 
zens would  not  shun  the  comparison.  The  best  types  of 
men  and  women  are  not  found  in  the  most  productive 
sections. 

**In  marches  of  a  mighty  age, 
Our  placets  on  the  van." 

— Mrs.  Mace. 

The  pure  breezes  from  hill  top,  mountain  and  sea  con- 
tribute to  the  physical,  mental  and  moral  fibre  of  her 
citizens.  The  late  Honorable  James  G.  Blaine,  who  for 
breadth  of  statesmanship  and  grasp  of  detail,  has  had  no 
equal  in  the  United  States,  was  an  adopted  son  of  Maine, 
where  he  lived  through  the  whole  of  his  political  life. 
The  Honorable  Thomas  B.  Reed,  formerly  Speaker  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  a  position  of 
importance  next  to  that  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  a  native  and  citizen  of  Maine.  William  P. 
Frye,  President  pro  tem  of  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  who,  with  his  colleague.  Honorable  Eugene  Hale, 
hold  the  chairmanships  of  some  of  the  most  important 
committees  of  that  august  body,  are  natives  of  Maine. 
Honorable  Nelson  Dingley,  the  able  leader  of  the 
National  House  of  Representatives,  was  a  native  of 
Maine.  The  late  Honorable  Charles  A.  Boutelle,  the 
able  and  fearless  member  of  the  National  House  of 
Representatives  from  the  fourth  representative  district  of 
Maine,  held  the  chairmanship  of  the  Naval  Committee. 
The  late  Honorable  Melville  W.  Fuller,  also  a  native  of 
Maine,  received  the  appointment  as  Chief  Justice  of  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court.  The  Honorable  Bartlett 
Tripp,  minister  to  Austria  under  President  Cleveland, 
was  born  in  Maine.  The  late  Honorable  Alfred  E. 
Buck,  at  one  time  minister  to  Japan,  was  a  Maine  man. 


114  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  distinction  of  serving  as  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
has  been  accorded  to  several  Maine  men.  Daniel 
Webster  has  been  credited  with  saying  that,  "New 
Hampshire  is  a  good  state  to  emigrate  from."  It  may 
truthfully  be  said  that  Maine  is  a  good  State  to  be  born 
and  reared  in. 

Maine  is  comparatively  free  from  many  of  the  physi- 
cal evils  that  afflict  the  West — evils  that  result  from 
adverse  atmospheric  conditions.  Among  these  are  floods, 
which  sometimes  submerge  large  areas  of  territory, 
phenomenal  storms  of  wind,  hurricanes  and  blizzards, 
also  cyclones  that  sweep  through  tiers  of  states,  destroy- 
ing crops,  houses  and  sometimes  whole  villages  and 
attended  by  great  loss  of  life.  The  population  of  the 
West  is  largely  more  heterogeneous  than  that  of  Maine. 


Petition  for  an  Act  of  Incorporation 

The  most  important  event  of  1810  was  the  petition 
for  an  Act  of  Incorporation.  The  township  had  been 
settled  nearly  eight  years  and  had  steadily  grown  in 
numbers,  and  there  were  now  (1810)  forty  or  more  fami- 
lies within  its  limits.  It  had  been  favored  with  an 
encouraging  degree  of  prosperity,  and  the  prospects  indi- 
cated continued  growth.  But  its  most  urgent  needs 
could  not  be  provided  for  until  its  inhabitants,  in  an 
organized  capacity,  were  invested  with  the  power  of  levy- 
ing taxes  upon  the  property  of  the  township.  Among 
their  immediate  wants  of  a  public  character,  were  roads 
and  schools.  A  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
township  was  caUed  early  in  1810  to  consider  the  question 
of  the  propriety  of  petitioning  the  General    Court  of 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  115 

Massachusetts  for  an  Act  of  Incorporation.  At  the 
appointed  time,  the  legal  voters  assembled  at  the  house 
of  Joseph  Garland,  and  organized  by  choosing  a  chair- 
man and  clerk.  It  was  decided  to  petition  for  an  Act 
of  Incorporation. 

This  important  point  having  been  decided  in  the 
affirmative,  the  question — What  shall  be  the  name  of  the 
prospective  town.?  now  confronted  the  citizens.  Stand- 
ing upon  the  stone  step,  which  had  been  fashioned  by 
Nature's  hand,  and  placed  in  front  of  Joseph  Garland's 
house,  Deacon  John  S.  Haskell  moved  that  the  word 
"Garland"  should  be  inserted  in  the  petition  as  indicat- 
ing the  choice  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  in 
regard  to  name.  The  motion  was  heard  with  great 
satisfaction  and  carried  without  opposition. 


What's  in   a   Name? 

The  citizens  of  Garland  ought  to  hold  their  fathers  in 
grateftil  remembrance  for  giving  to  the  town  so  sensible, 
so  convenient  and  appropriate  a  name  as  that  by  which 
it  is  known.  A  name  may  be  desirable  for  what  it  lacks 
as  well  as  what  it  contains.  Many  towns  are  burdened 
with  names  through  whose  accentual  windings,  changing 
inflections,  harsh  sounding  and  unpronounceable  syllables 
drag  their  slow  length.  What  bottles  of  ink,  boxes  of 
pens,  reams  of  paper,  stores  of  vocal  power,  and  crimes 
against  the  rules  of  orthography  and  pronunciation  are 
saved  in  a  single  decade  by  the  use  of  the  simple  name 
given  to  this  township  when  it  took  on  a  corporate  exist- 
ence. It  is  a  model  of  convenience  and  simplicity.  It 
is  easily  spoken  and  easily  written.      Its  distinct  utter- 


116  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

ance  indicates  its  orthography  and  pronunciation.      It  is 
scarcely  susceptible  of  being  misspelled  or  mispronounced. 

It  is  not  so  inconveniently  long  nor  short  as  to  sug- 
gest scantiness  of  material,  nor  does  it  deceive  the  trav- 
eller, who  is  dreamily  passing  through  it,  with  the  idea 
that  he  is  travelling  in  Greece,  France  or  Italy. 
It  has  a  poetic  and  musical  ring  that  is  suggestive  of 
pleasant  things.  It  is  also  of  importance  because  it  is 
invested  with  historical  significance.  It  perpetuates  the 
memory  of  the  heroic  family,  that  of  Joseph  Garland, 
which  left  a  snug  little  home  in  New  Hampshire  to 
encounter  the  hardships,  privations  and  perils  of  pioneer 
life  through  a  long  cold  winter,  while  yet  there  was  not 
another  family  within  the  township. 

The  following  incident  will  show  that  there  was  some- 
thing of  advantage  in  the  name  by  which  this  town  is 
known,  on  at  least  one  occasion.  In  the  year  1823, 
there  was  living  in  England  a  family  of  laborers,  includ- 
ing the  father,  mother  and  two  sons.  They  were  hard- 
working and  respectable  people  but  could  see  no  prospect 
of  rising  above  the  conditions  which  had  been  the  lot  of 
their  parents  and  of  themselves  thus  far. 

They  had  heard  of  America,  of  the  people  who  lived 
in  their  own  comfortable  homes,  of  its  cheap  lands  and 
its  opportunities.  A  home  of  their  own  filled  their 
thoughts  by  day  and  dreams  by  night  until  they  reached 
the  decision  to  emigrate  to  America.  They  had  been 
compelled  to  practice  a  rigid  economy  in  their  previous 
lives,  but  to  secure  the  funds  to  pay  their  passage  to  the 
country  they  sought,  they  must  turn  the  screws  still 
harder.  By  reducing  their  daily  expenses  to  the  lowest 
possible  figure,  they  saved  money  enough  to  emigrate  to 
Belfast,  Maine.  One  of  the  sons  aptly,  if  not  elegantly, 
characterized    the    money    thus  saved   as    "pinch-gut- 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  117 

money,"  because  it  was  an  abridgment  of   their  daily 
food. 

At  Belfast,  the  father  supported  his  family  by  work 
as  a  day  laborer  two  years,  but  the  purpose  of  their 
coming  to  America  was  to  make  a  home  of  their  own. 
Destitute  of  money,  they  sought  land  where  it  could  be 
purchased  cheap  on  credit. 

The  attention  of  the  father  had  been  called  to  the 
township  afterwards  known  as  Bowerbank  in  Piscataquis 
County.  Accompanied  by  his  eldest  son,  he  started  on 
a  trip  for  that  township.  Reaching  the  town  of  Sebec, 
and  finding  that  the  road  running  north  terminated  at 
that  place,  he  decided  not  to  travel  any  farther  in  that 
direction.  Having  heard  the  town  of  Dexter  favorably 
mentioned,  he  turned  his  steps  towards  that  place.  He 
had  but  just  passed  within  the  limits  of  Dexter  when  the 
name  Garland  upon  a  guide-board  struck  the  fancy  of 
the  son.  Pronouncing  the  name  several  times,  and 
becoming  enamored  with  it,  he  persuaded  his  father  to 
visit  the  town  with  the  attractive  name  before  purchas- 
ing elsewhere. 

As  a  result  of  the  visit,  he  purchased  a  part  of  lot 
six,  range  six,  felled  a  piece  of  trees,  built  a  log-cabin, 
into  which  he  moved  his  family  in  1825.  The  site  of 
the  cabin  was  at  the  center  of  the  town  on  the  south 
side  of  the  center  road  running  east  and  west,  and  nearly 
opposite  the  present  residence  of  James  M.  Stone,  for- 
merly the  home  of  Joseph  True. 

By  virtue  of  the  industry  and  economy  to  which  they 
had  been  accustomed  in  the  old  country,  they  improved 
their  condition  from  year  to  year.  A  few  years  later 
they  were  living  in  a  comfortable  house  with  such  out 
buildings  attached  as  characterize  the  home  of  a  well-to- 
do  farmer. 

Allured  by  the  thrift  of  this  family,  other   English 


118  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

families  emigrated  to  Garland  from  time  to  time,  whose 
descendants  have  taken  rank  with  our  most  industrious 
and  prosperous  citizens.  This  accession  of  English  citi- 
zens may  be  traced  to  the  attractive  name  given  the  town 
by  our  fathers. 

The  family  that  emigrated  to  Belfast  in  1823,  and  to 
Garland  in  1825,  was  the  family  of  Deacon  James  March. 
Deacon  March  often  related  to  his  new  neighbors  that  in 
England  after  a  hastily  prepared  breakfast,  cooked  over 
a  fire  of  straw,  he  and  his  wife  hastened  to  the  harvest 
field,  taking  with  them  a  small  barley  loaf,  which  served 
as  food  until  darkness  compelled  a  cessation  from  labor. 


A  Copy  of  the  Petition  for  Incorporation 

A  copy  of  the  petition  for  an  act  of  incorporation, 
and  of  the  names  of  the  signers,  taken  from  Massachu- 
setts records,  was  kindly  furnished  the  writer  by  Dr. 
John  F.  Pratt  of  Chelsea,  Mass.  The  petition,  dated 
March  10,  1810,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Honorable 
James  Carr,  representative  to  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  from  Bangor,  who  was  requested  to  take 
charge  of  it.      The  petition  read  as  follows : 

To  the  Honourable  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives in  General  Court  Assembled,  at  Boston,  June 
Session,  1810. 

Humbly  Sheweth:  The  subscribers,  inhabitants  of 
Township  No.  Three  in  the  Fifth  Range  of  Townships 
North  of  the  Waldo  Patent  in  the  County  of  Hancock, 
that  at  present  there  are  between  two  hundred  and  two 
hundred  and  fifty  souls  resident  in  said  Town  and  near 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  119 

fifty  persons  liable  to  pay  taxes.  That  from  the  first 
settlement  of  said  Township  which  is  nearly  eight  years 
since,  we  have  been  deprived  of  the  benefit  and  privilege 
of  an  incorporation  Wherefore  your  Petitioners  pray 
the  Legislature  of  this  Commonwealth  to  incorporate 
them  into  a  Town  by  the  name  of  Garland,  with  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  that  other  towns  are  entitled  in  this 
Commonwealth  by  the  Constitution, — Bounded  as  fol- 
lows :  East  by  Township  No.  Two,  in  the  same  Range, 
on  the  North  by  To^Tiship  No.  Three,  in  the  Sixth 
Range;  bounded  on  the  West  by  Township  No.  Four  in 
the  aforesaid  Fifth  Range;  bounded  on  the  South  by 
Township  No.  Three  in  the  Fourth  Range  of  Townships 
North  of  the  Waldo  Patent  aforesaid,  conformable  to 
the  original  lines  and  comers  as  run  and  set  up  by  Gov- 
ernment Surveyors  in  the  year  of  our  LORD  1792, 
originally  intended  to  include  a  Tract  six  miles  square  be 
the  same  more  or  less.  Your  Petitioners  as  in  duty 
bound  will  ever  pray. 

Township  Number  three,  March,  1810. 
(Signed)  (signed) 

Edward  Fifield.  Phillip  Greley. 

Isaac  Hopkins.  Justus  Hariman. 

John  Stevens.  Simeon  Morgan. 

John  Hayes.  John  Knight. 

Nathaniel  Fifield.  John  S.  Haskell. 

John  Trefetheren.  Edward  Pratt. 

Dudley  L.  Fogg.  Joseph  Garland. 

Thom's  Gillpatrick,  Jr.        Theophilus  B.  Morgan. 
John  Pratt.  Thomas  Gillpatrick. 

Benj.  Gillpatrick.  Moses  Gordon. 

Thomas  S.  Tyler.  Josiah  Bartlett. 

Silas  Libbee.  John  Jack  man. 

William  Blasdell.  Oliver  Woodard. 

Jeremiah  Flanders.  Enoch  Jackman. 


120  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Cutteon  Flanders.  William  Godwin. 

Enoch  Clough.  Abraham  Bond. 

John  E.  Gordon.  Samson  Silver. 

Jacob  Garland.  Isaac  Wheeler. 

William  Dustin.  William  Sargent. 

Ezekiel  Straw.  James  McClure. 

Amos  Gordon.  John  Stevens. 

John  Chandler.  Andrew  Kimball. 
Eleazer  Woodard. 

Something  of  the  history  of  each  person  whose  name 
appears  on  the  petition  has  been  given  in  preceding 
pages,  except  in  cases  of  Isaac  Hopkins,  John  Stevens, 
Dudley  L.  Fogg,  John  and  Edward  Pratt,  Silas  Libbee 
and  Oliver  and  Eleazer  Woodard.  The  name  of  Isaac 
Hopkins  appears  on  the  voting  list  only  in  1812.  It 
may  be  inferred  that  he  was  only  a  temporary  resident. 

John  Stevens  bargained  for  a  small  piece  of  land  on 
John  Chandler's  lot,  where  he  lived  only  a  short  time. 
He  was  a  single  man.  Of  Dudley  L.  Fogg  tradition 
makes  no  mention.  John  and  Edward  Pratt  were  resi- 
dents here  but  a  short  time.  They  early  took  up  their 
residence  in  Piscataquis  County. 

Silas  Libbee  bought  a  piece  of  land  on  the  old 
Harriman  place,  which  he  soon  abandoned.  He  after- 
wards bought  a  part  of  the  lot  known  as  the  Joseph  M. 
Gerry  place.  He  was  not  long  a  resident  of  Garland. 
Oliver  Woodard  made  a  beginning  on  lot  four,  range  six, 
where  George  W.  Adams  formerly  lived. 

The  petition  for  an  act  of  incorporation  was  probably 
copied  from  the  form  which  other  townships  had  used. 
In  response  to  the  petition,  the  following  act  was  passed 
by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts : 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  121 

Act  of  Incorporation 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord   one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  eleven. 

An  act  to  incorporate  township  number  three  in  the 
fifth  range  of  townships  north  of  the  Waldo  Patent  into 
a  town  by  the  name  of  Garland. 

Section  1st.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled  and  by 
authority  of  the  same :  That  township  number  three  in 
the  fifth  range  of  townships  north  of  the  Waldo  Patent 
in  the  county  of  Hancock,  bounded  as  follows :  North- 
wardly by  township  number  three  in  the  sixth  range; 
westwardly  by  township  number  four  in  the  fifth  range ; 
southwardly  by  township  number  three  in  the  fourth 
range;  and  eastwardly  by  township  number  two  in  the 
fifth  range,  together  with  the  inhabitants  thereof  be, 
and  hereby  are  incorporated  into  a  town  by  the  name  of 
Garland  vested  with  all  the  powers,  privileges  and 
immunities  which  other  towns  do,  or  may  enjoy  by  the 
constitution  and  laws  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Section  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  any  justice  of 
the  peace  in  said  county  of  Hancock  be,  and  hereby  is 
empowered  to  issue  his  warrant  directed  to  some  suitable 
inhabitant  of  said  town  of  Garland  requiring  him  to 
notify  and  warn  the  inhabitants  thereof  qualified  to  vote 
in  town  affairs,  to  meet  at  such  time  and  place  as  shall 
be  expressed  in  said  warrant,  to  choose  all  such  officers 
as  towns  are  by  law  required  to  choose  in  the  month  of 
March  or  April  annually. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives,    February  14,   1811. 

This  bill  having  had  then  several  readings  was  passed 
to  be  enacted. 

JOSEPH    STORY,   Speaker. 


122  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

In  Senate,  February  14,  1811. 

This  bill  having  had  two  several  readings  was  passed 
to  be  enacted. 

H.   G.   OTIS,   President. 

Council  Chamber: 

16th  of  February,  1811. 

Approved  E.  GERRY. 

Secretary's  Office, 

February  11,  1811. 

A  true  copy, 
Attest  BEN  J.  HAMANS 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Mass. 

The  act  of  incorporation  was  copied  into  the  first 
volume  of  town  records,  and  the  correctness  of  the  copy 
attested  by  Joseph  Treadwell,  Garland's  first  town  clerk. 
An  inspection  of  the  geographical  description  of  the 
township  will  show  that  county  and  State  lines  have  been 
changed  since  the  incorporation  of  the  town. 

The  act  of  incorporation  had  the  effect  of  converting 
an  unorganized,  into  an  organized  community,  and  of 
investing  it  with  all  the  powers,  privileges  and  immuni- 
ties that  a  town  may  exercise  and  enjoy.  Through  the 
agency  of  the  courts  it  could  now  enforce  legal  claims 
against  individuals  or  communities,  and  defend  itself 
against  claims  of  an  opposite  character.  It  could  now 
assess  taxes  to  make  roads,  to  build  schoolhouses,  sup- 
port schools  and  for  other  public  purposes  and  enforce 
their  payment. 

It  was  brought  into  political  relations  with  State  and 
National  governments.  The  ballot  of  its  humblest  voter 
would  weigh  as  much  in  determining  who  should  be 
governor  or  president  as  that  of  the  wealthiest  or  most 
aristocratic  citizen  of  the  State. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  123 

The  transformation  of  township  to  town  had  been 
made  under  auspicious  conditions.  The  act  of  incor- 
poration, the  bill  of  rights  of  the  inhabitants,  had  been 
granted  by  the  State  of  Massachusetts  which  had  been 
the  home  of  the  Pilgrim  and  the  Puritan,  the  state  that 
had  given  to  New  England  the  school,  the  church  and 
the  town  meeting,  and  to  the  country  the  best  type  of 
civilization  the  world  had  ever  known,  the  state  whose 
soil  w£is  the  first  stained  by  patriot  blood  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution. 

The  renowned  jurist,  Joseph  Story,  signed  the  act  as 
Speaker  of  the  House.  The  cultured  and  polished 
Harrison  Gray  Otis  signed  it  as  President  of  the  Senate, 
and  Elbridge  Gerry,  afterwards  Vice  President  of  the 
United  States,    approved  it  as  Governor. 


Garland  in  1811 

The  crowning  act  of  the  township  in  1811  was  its 
assumption  of  the  powers,  privileges  and  immunities  of 
a  corporate  existence.  The  inhabitants  of  the  new  town 
had  now  only  to  await  the  coming  of  that  characteristic 
New  England  institution,  the  town  meeting,  to  enter 
upon  the  exercise  of  their  new  powers.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  new  town  now  impatiently  awaited  the  act  of 
incorporation  which  seemed  very  slow  in  coming.  The 
nearest  post-office  was  at  Bangor,  twenty-five  miles 
away,  and  to  the  post-office  in  Bangor  the  document  was 
sent.  A  messenger,  who  was  awaiting  its  arrival,  took 
it  immediately  to  Garland.  In  this  year  of  grace, 
1897,  a  document  mailed  in  Boston  late  in  the  afternoon 
of  a  specified  day,  would  reach  the  post-office  in  Gar- 


124  HTSTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

land  on  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day.  The  document 
which  the  inhabitants  of  Garland  were  impatiently 
awaiting  in  that  memorable  March  of  1811,  was  a  little 
more  than  two  weeks  in  coming  to  the  Bangor  post-office. 
On  its  arrival  at  Garland,  it  was  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Isaac  Wheeler,  who  held  a  commission  of  justice  of  the 
peace  bearing  the  seal  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Squire  Wheeler  forthwith  issued    the  following    war- 
rant, dated  March  16,  1811 : 

L.  S.  Hancock  js:  To  Amos  Gordon,  one  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Garland  in  said  county  of  Hancock, 
Greeting : 

L.  S.  You  are  hereby  required  in  the  name  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  to  notify  and  warn  the 
Freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  said  town  qualified 
by  law  to  vote  in  town  affairs,  to  assemble  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  on  Monday  the  first  day 
of  April  next  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  for  the 
following  purposes:     (viz.) 

1st.      To  choose  a  moderator  to  govern  said  Meeting. 

2d.      To  choose  a  Town  Clerk. 

3d.      To  choose  three  Select  Men. 

4th.      To  choose  three  Assessors. 

5th.      To  choose  a  Constable. 

6th.      To  see  what  the  town  will  do  with  respect  to 
a  collector. 

7th.      To    choose   all    other    officers    that    the    law 
requires. 

8th.      To  see  how  much  money  the  town  will  raise 
to  repair  highways. 

9th.      To  see  how  much  money  the  town  will  raise 
for  the  support  of  schools. 
10th.      To  see  what  the  town  will  do  with  respect  to 
building  schoolhouses. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  125 

11th.      To  see  how  much  money  the  town  will  raise  to 

defray  the  expenses  of  the  town. 
ISth.      To  do  all  other  business  'that  the  town  shall 

think  proper  when  assembled. 
Given  under    my    hand    and    seal    this    16th    day    of 
March,  1811. 

ISAAC   WHEELER, 

Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Upon  the  above  warrant  Mr.  Gordon  made  the  fol- 
lowing return: 

In  pursuance  of  the  above  warrant  to  me  directed,  I 
do  hereby  notify  and  warn  the  freeholders  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Garland  qualified  to  vote  in 
town  affairs,  to  meet  at  the  time  and  place  mentioned  in 
the  foregoing  warrant  and  for  the  purpose  therein 
■expressed : 

This  18th  day  of  March,  1811. 

AMOS   GORDON. 
A  true  copy — 

Attest,  JOSEPH  TREADWELL,  Town  Clerk. 

The  matters  of  business  presented  in  this  warrant  were 
couched  in  forms  that  had  been  transmitted  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Garland  through  successive  generations, 
and  are  still  in  general  use.  The  items  of  business  were 
presented  in  these  preliminary  proceedings  with  a  clear- 
ness and  propriety  of  expression  that  would  not  be  dis- 
creditable to  any  board  of  town  officers  that  have  had 
the  affairs  of  the  town  in  charge  from  that  day  to  this. 

Two  classes  of  voters  were  mentioned  in  the  warrant — 
freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  qualified  to  vote  in 
town  affairs.  The  freeholder  was  an  inhabitant  who 
held  an  estate  of  a  prescribed  value  in  his  own  right. 
This  gave  him  the  right  to  vote  in  State  and  National 


126  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

affairs  as  well  as  in  town  affairs.  The  other  inhabitants 
mentioned  were  those  whose  estate  did  not  reach  the 
prescribed  value.      These  could  vote  only  in  town  affairs. 


The  First  Town  Meeting 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  first  day  of 
April,  1811,  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  which 
stood  upon  the  site  of  the  residence  of  the  late  William 
B.  Foss,  now  the  home  of  F.  D.  Wood  and  family,  a  few 
rods  north  of  the  Free  Baptist  church. 

The  advent  of  the  town  meeting  was  the  beginning  of 
a  new  era  to  the  inhabitants  of  Garland.  They  had 
lived  together  for  eight  years  with  no  semblance  of 
organization.  No  inhabitant  could  be  compelled  to  per- 
form the  slightest  service  for  the  public  good  although  he 
would  share  the  benefit  of  such  service  equally  with  other 
inhabitants.  The  citizens  had  been  groping  along  cir- 
cuitous paths  in  the  wilderness,  carrying  their  burdens 
upon  horseback  or  conveyances  of  the  rudest  character. 
Their  children  were  living  without  schools,  save  here  and 
there  one  at  uncertain  intervals  of  time,  supported  by 
voluntary  subscriptions. 

Other  matters  relating  to  the  public  convenience  and 
welfare  had  been  neglected,  but  the  town  meeting,  the 
most  democratic  of  American  institutions,  had  come, 
bringing  with  it  the  elements  of  prosperity  and  progress. 
It  could  not,  indeed,  create  wealth,  but  it  could  levy 
taxes  upon  existing  resources  and  establish  schools. 
That  potent  factor  of  representative  government,  the 
voice  of  the  majority,  could  compel  the  citizen,  willing 
or  not,  to  bear  his  share  of  the  public  burdens. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  127 

The  coming  of  the  first  town  meeting  was  an  occasion 
of  great  importance  to  the  inhabitants  for  reasons  other 
than  those  which  have  been  noticed.  It  created  places 
of  trust,  responsibility  and  honor  that  must  be  filled. 
It  created  emoluments  which  although  at  the  present 
time  would  be  regarded  of  trifling  importance,  were  not 
matters  of  entire  indifference  then.  It  would  not  be 
uncharitable  to  suppose  that  some  of  the  more  promi- 
nent citizens,  ambitious  for  office,  had  been  modestly 
awaiting  honors  which  they  believed  would  be  thrust  upon 
them.  There  were  others  who  were  glad  of  an  oppor- 
tunity to  express  in  some  tangible  form  their  good-will 
towards  an  esteemed  neighbor  or  friend.  There  were 
still  others  who  cherished  favorite  plans  in  respect  to  the 
location  of  roads  and  schoolhouses,  and  if  these  could  be 
realized,  they  cared  but  little  who  bore  away  the  honors 
and  emoluments  of  office. 

Punctually  at  the  hour,  the  inhabitants  assembled  at 
the  appointed  place,  and  organized  the  first  town  meet- 
ing by  the  choice  of  Thomas  Gilpatrick  for  moderator, 
and  Joseph  Treadwell  for  clerk.  Josiah  Bartlett,  Isaac 
Wheeler  and  Thomas  Gilpatrick  were  chosen  selectmen 
and  assessors.  Edward  Fifield  was  chosen  constable  and 
collector,  and  was  voted  a  compensation  of  ten  dollars 
for  collecting  all  taxes  for  the  year  1811. 

Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  was  chosen  treasurer.  John 
Chandler,  Amos  Gordon,  Josiah  Bartlett,  John  Hayes, 
Joseph  Saunders,  Thomas  S.  Tyler  and  Ezekiel  Straw 
were  chosen  highway  surveyors.  The  choosing  of  high- 
way surveyors  at  this  meeting  seems  a  little  premature 
as  no  highways  had  been  established.  They  were 
instructed  to  allow  twelve  and  one  half  cents  per  hour 
for  work  on  the  highways,  a  precedent  that  has  been  fol- 
lowed to  the  present  time.  William  Godwin,  Andrew 
Kimball  and   James  McClure  were  chosen  surveyors  of 


128  HISTOEY    OF    GAXLAND,     MAINE 

boards.  Joseph  Tread  well  and  Amos  Gordon  were 
chosen  surveyors  of  split  lumber.  William  Sargent, 
Benjamin  Gilpatrick,  William  Palmer,  P.  Greeley, 
Cutteon  Flanders  and  O.  Woodward  were  chosen  hog- 
reeves.  William  Blaisdell,  Justus  Harriman  and  Moses 
Gordon  were  chosen  fence- viewers.  Isaac  Wheeler  was 
chosen  sealer  of  weights  and  measures.  John  S.  Haskell 
and  William  Sargent  were  chosen  field-drivers.  Enoch 
Jackman  was  chosen  sealer  of  leather. 

The  record  of  Garland's  first  town  meeting  closes  with 
the  following  entry : 

Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting.  Accordingly  it  was 
dissolved. 

A  true  copy  of  proceedings, 

Attest,  JOSEPH  TREADWELL,   Clerk. 

The  handwriting  and  general  neatness  of  Mr. 
Tread  well's  record  is  very  creditable.  An  inspection  of 
the  records  will  show  a  disposition  to  make  the  honors  of 
office  go  to  as  many  of  the  inhabitants  as  possible. 
Seven  highway  surveyors  were  appointed  when,  as  yet, 
not  a  single  highway  had  been  established.  Several 
other  offices  were  filled  for  which  there  was  no  apparent 
use. 

This  first  town  meeting  was  without  doubt  a  meeting 
of  the  genuine  New  England  type.  The  inhabitants  had 
come  together  to  exercise  the  rights  and  enjoy  the  privi- 
leges with  which  they  had  so  recently  been  invested. 

In  the  town  meeting,  each  inhabitant  was  the  equal  of 
every  other,  and  each  could  represent  his  own  views  upon 
every  question  by  voice  and  vote.  It  may  be  assumed 
that  the  proceedings  were  not  strictly  parliamentary.  In 
the  typical  New  England  town  meeting,  the  sharp 
personal  thrust  and  instant  retort,  whether  in  order  or 
not,  can  no  more  be  anticipated  than  lightning  from  a 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  129 

cloudless  sky.      The  roar  of  laughter  that  follows  is  the 
safety-valve  for  the  escape  of  dangerous  elements. 


The   Second   Town    Meeting 

The  year  1811  was  fruitful  of  town  meetings.  The 
second  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Isaac 
Wheeler,  Esq.,  on  April  22,  1811.  Edward  Fifield  was 
chosen  moderator.  The  main  purpose  of  this  meeting 
was  to  consider  and  act  on  the  question  of  roads. 

To  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  town  this  was  a  question 
of  serious  difficulty  on  account  of  the  long  stretch  of 
road  demanded  for  the  public  convenience.  If  the  forty- 
five  families  of  the  town  had  been  located  on  contiguous 
lots  in  some  particular  section,  the  burden  of  making 
roads  would  have  been  greatly  diminished,  but  they  were 
scattered  over  a  large  part  of  its  surface.  There  were 
families  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  town  and  on  the 
western.  There  were  families  in  the  extreme  northwest 
corner,  and  in  the  southwest  comer,  as  well  as  in  the 
central  part  of  the  town.  All  these  families  must  be 
accommodated. 

There  was  one  favorable  condition.  There  could  be 
no  dispute  about  routes.  These  had  been  predetermined 
by  the  original  proprietors  of  the  township,  who  had 
caused  it  to  be  surveyed  into  squares  whose  sides  were 
one  mile  long,  by  range  ways  running  through  it  from 
north  to  south  and  from  east  to  west.  These  range  ways 
constituted  the  routes  for  roads.  Nothing  remained  to 
be  done  but  to  determine  distances,  and  to  indicate  here 
and  there  a  deviation  from  the  direct  route  to  avoid 
natural  obstacles. 


180  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

At  this  meeting  the  selectmen  submitted  their  report 
on  the  subject  of  roads.  The  first  route  described  in 
the  report,  extended  from  the  west  line  of  the  town 
through  its  center,  to  its  east  line,  and  the  road  is  now 
known  as  the  east  and  west  center  road.  Within  one 
and  one  half  miles  of  the  east  line  of  the  town,  some 
deviations  from  the  range  line  were  indicated  as  desirable, 
but  some  years  later,  the  route  was  restored  to  the  range 
line.  And  still  later  a  curve  to  the  north  was  made  near 
the  old  Bartlett  place  to  avoid  the  steep  part  of  the  hill 
at  that  point. 

The  second  route  described  in  the  report  of  the  select- 
men and  accepted  by  the  town,  followed  the  range  line 
between  the  eighth  and  ninth  ranges,  from  the  west  line 
of  the  town  to  the  southeast  corner  of  lot  four  in  the 
ninth  range  of  lots.  This  route  was  a  mile  north  of  the 
east  and  west  center  route  and  parallel  to  it.  The  width 
of  this  road  was  fixed  at  three  rods.  A  section  of  road 
upon  this  route,  reaching  from  the  west  line  of  the  town 
to  the  Sangerville  county  road,  was  built ;  also  a  shorter 
section,  reaching  from  the  recent  site  of  the  schoolhouse 
in  district  number  five,  one  half  mile  east,  and  passing 
the  Horace  Davis  and  Emerson  places.  The  part  of  the 
route  between  these  two  sections  of  road  was  discon- 
tinued by  vote  of  the  town.  The  families,  now  residing 
on  the  westerly  section  are  those  of  George  Arnold, 
Charles  Carr  and  Robert  McComb. 

The  third  route  described  in  the  report,  extended  from 
the  west  line  of  the  town  at  a  point  near  the  present 
residence  of  Mark  Jennings,  easterly  between  the  fourth 
and  fifth  ranges  of  lots,  to  the  corner  a  few  rods  east  of 
the  site  of  the  Congregational  church. 

The  fourth  was  a  short  route  in  the  southwest  part  of 
the  town. 

The  fifth  route  began  on  the  range  way  at  the  top  of 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  131 

the  hill,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  residence  then  of  the 
Rev.  John  Sawyer,  but  now  owned  by  D.  F.  Patten,  and 
ran  southerly  over  the  site  of  the  present  village  to  Exeter 
line.  The  larger  part  of  this  route  became,  a  few  years 
later,  a  section  of  the  road  leading  into  Piscataquis 
County.      It  was  to  be  four  rods  wide. 

The  sixth  route  described  in  the  report,  extended 
northerly  from  the  southeast  comer  of  land  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  Alfred  Patterson,  to  the  point  of  inter- 
section with  the  county  road  now  leading  to  Sangerville. 
One  mile  of  the  southern  section  of  this  route  has  never 
been  built,  the  starting  point  having  been  changed  to  a 
point  near  the  Maple  Grove  Cemetery,  running  thence 
in  a  northwesterly  direction  and  intersecting  the  original 
route  near  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Charles 
Greeley. 

The  town  voted  to  accept  the  report  of  selectmen 
relating  to  routes,  and  to  establish  roads  in  accordance 
therewith.  It  voted  also  to  estabhsh  a  road  from  the 
northwest  comer  of  J.  Bartlett's  land,  to  the  southwest 
comer  of  J.  McClure's  land,  thence  to  the  mill.  This 
vote  embraced  the  existing  road,  leading  from  the  north- 
west comer  of  the  farm  now  owned  by  Calvin  Campbell, 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  cemetery  near  the  school- 
house  in  district  number  seven. 

From  the  cemetery  the  line  of  the  road  ran  westerly 
to  a  point  near  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  James 
Rideout,  where  it  bore  to  the  south  and  intersected  the 
route  of  the  road  running  south,  where  it  is  now  inter- 
sected by  the  road  from  Holt's  Mills.  A  few  years 
later  the  route  from  the  present  Rideout  place  was 
changed  so  as  to  run  in  a  pretty  direct  course  to  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  present  grist- 
mill. In  1855,  the  road  was  «igain  changed  to  avoid  the 
dangerous    tum    at  the  point  of   intersection  with    the 


132  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

north  and  south  road.      This  change  was  from  the  Preble 
Brook  to  L.  Oak's  store. 

At  this  second  meeting  the  town  had  voted  to  make 
twenty  miles  of  road.  This  was  a  necessity  of  the  time, 
but  it  proved  a  troublesome  necessity.  Eighteen  miles 
of  road  embraced  in  this  action  of  the  town  are  now  in 
use.  Many  years  passed  before  any  of  these  roads 
became  passable  for  the  modern  carriage. 

At  this  meeting  the  town  voted  to  raise  five  hundred 
dollars  to  make  and  repair  highways.  Although  the 
second  town  meeting  was  devoted  mainly  to  the  consid- 
eration of  roads,  the  question  of  schools  received  some 
attention.  So  closely  connected  in  the  New  England 
mind  of  those  early  days  were  roads  and  schools  that  an 
appropriation  for  one  was  immediately  followed  by  an 
appropriation  for  the  other. 

At  the  meeting  the  town  voted  to  raise  one  hundred 
dollars  for  the  support  of  schools,  and  that  the  school 
money  should  be  paid  in  corn  at  five  shillings,  rye  at 
seven  shillings  and  wheat  at  eight  shillings  per  bushel. 
This,  with  similar  votes  from  year  to  year  in  the  earlier 
days  of  the  town's  history,  shows  that  coi-n,  rye  and 
wheat  were  an  important  element  in  the  currency  of  the 
inhabitants,  which,  with  all  its  disadvantages,  had  the 
merit  of  an  intrinsic  value  in  harmony  with  that  by 
which  it  had  been  invested  by  the  legislature  of  the 
town,  a  merit  of  which  some  of  the  modern  schemes 
relating  to  currency  are  lamentably  destitute.  The 
present  generation  may  well  regard  the  robust  honesty 
of  their  fathers  with  pride. 

Another  vote  at  the  meeting  of  1811  was  that  each 
district  should  build  its  own  schoolhouse.  This  vote 
seems  a  little  premature,  inasmuch  as  not  a  single  district 
had    been    established,  but    it   disclosed    an  interest  in 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  133 

schools  which  was  an  ever-abiding  element  in  the  hearts 
of  the  early  inhabitants. 

The  proceedings  of  the  second  town  meeting  of  1811 
were  closed  by  a  vote  to  raise  fifty  dollars  to  defray 
town  charges. 


The  Third   Town  Meeting  of  1811 

This  meeting  assembled  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Wheeler, 
Esq.,  on  the  31st  day  of  August,  1811.  Its  main  pur- 
pose was  to  consider  the  question  of  schools. 

Thomas  Gilpatrick  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Dr. 
James  Parker,  clerk.  A  committee  of  three,  embracing 
Joseph  Garland,  Justus  H.  Harriman  and  WiUiam 
Blaisdell,  was  chosen  to  divide  the  town  into  school 
districts  with  instructions  to  report  at  the  next  meeting 
of  the  town. 

It  was  voted  that  the  method  of  warning  town  meet- 
ings should  be  by  written  notification,  and  that  said 
notification  be  set  up  at  some  place  at  least  seven  days 
previous  to  said  meeting,  except  in  some  extraordinary 
case  of  emergency.  In  such  case  the  method  should  be 
left  to  the  discretion  of  the  selectmen.  The  last  pro- 
vision of  this  vote  is  significant  as  showing  that  ominous 
shadows  of  an  impending  national  conflict  were  hanging 
over  those  homes  in  the  forest,  and  that  the  purpose  of 
the  inhabitants  was  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to 
respond  to  the  call  of  their  country  with  patriotic 
promptitude,  come  when  it  might. 


134  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


The  Fourth  Town  Meeting  of  1811 

The  fourth  and  last  town  meeting  of  1811  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  September  22d. 
Thomas  Gilpatrick  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Dr.  James 
Parker,  clerk  pro  tem.  Its  purpose  was  to  hear  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  the  division  of  the  town  into 
school  districts,  and  to  take  such  action  with  reference 
thereto  as  well  as  to  the  general  question  of  schools,  as 
the  majority  should  determine. 

The  action  of  the  town  with  reference  to  this  matter 
seems  to  have  been  in  harmony  with  the  recommendations 
of  the  committee  on  divisions. 

It  was  voted  that  all  the  settlement  east  of  the  center 
road  running  north  and  south  be  one  district.  It  also 
voted  that  the  center  road  running  east  and  west, 
together  with  the  road  north  of  this  (and  parallel  to  it) 
be  one  district  with  the  privilege  of  two  schoolhouses. 
It  voted  that  the  settlement  by  E.  Fifi eld's  should  be 
one  district.  This  was  in  the  southwest  part  of  the 
town. 

Josiah  Bartlett  was  appointed  school  agent  for  the 
district  east  of  the  north  and  south  center  road. 

Joseph  Garland  was  appointed  agent  for  the  second 
district,  and  Edward  Fifield  for  the  third  district.  It 
was  voted  that  each  district  should  build  its  own  school- 
house. 

The  Rev.  John  Sawyer,  Dr.  J.  Parker  and  Isaac 
AVheeler  were  chosen  superintending  school  committee. 
This  was  the  first  school  committee  of  the  town. 

The  vote  of  the  previous  meeting  that  each  district 
should  build  its  own  schoolhouse,  was  reaffirmed. 

The  attempts  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  par- 
tition it  into  school    districts,  and  to  locate  and  build 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  135 

schoolhouses,  gave  rise  to  a  long  and  persistent  if  not 
bitter  struggle  between  opposing  factions.  The  theater 
of  the  struggle  was  sometimes  the  town  meeting,  and 
sometimes  the  school  district  meeting.  The  history 
and  results  of  the  struggle  will  be  given  in  another  con- 
nection. 


Garland  in  1812 

The  year  1812  like  that  of  1811  was  fruitful  of  town 
meetings.  Business  had  been  accumulating  during  the 
eight  years  of  the  unorganized  condition  of  the  town- 
ship. Now,  having  been  invested  with  municipal  powers, 
business  that  had  been  neglected,  much  of  it  important, 
confronted  its  inhabitants. 

The  town  had  exceptional  difficulties  to  encounter  in 
providing  for  the  welfare  of  its  people  on  account  of 
their  being  so  much  scattered  over  its  surface. 

At  a  meeting  in  1811  it  had  voted  to  make  twenty- 
two  miles  of  road.  This  was  a  task  that  would  require 
many  years  in  the  performance.  But  this  long  stretch 
of  road  failed  to  reach  all  the  families.  There  was  an 
urgent  demand  for  more  road.  But  the  division  of  the 
town  into  school  districts,  and  the  location  and  building 
of  schoolhouses,  presented  questions  of  a  much  more 
perplexing  character. 

The  annual  meeting  of  1812  was  held  at  the  home  of 
Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  on  April  6th.  Amos  Gordon  was 
chosen  moderator,  Jacob  Garland  town  clerk,  Isaac 
Wheeler,  Josiah  Bartlett  and  John  Trefethen  were 
chosen  selectmen  and  assessors. 

The  town  voted  that  twenty  dollars  in  cash  should  be 


136  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

raised  to  defray  town  charges,  and  that  every  man  should 
deliver  his  tax  money  into  the  hands  of  the  town  treas- 
urer. John  Hayes  was  chosen  collector,  and  was  voted 
a  compensation  of  four  dollars  for  his  services  in  this 
capacity.      Amos  Gordon  was  chosen  town  treasurer. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  seven  hundred  dollars  to  make 
and  repair  highways,  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  dollars  to 
defray  town  charges. 

Twelve  and  one  half  cents  per  hour  was  voted  for 
labor  on  the  roads.  It  was  voted  to  allow  six  shillings 
for  corn,  seven  shillings  for  rye  and  eight  shillings  for 
wheat  in  payment  for  taxes. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  April  7th,  the  town 
instructed  the  selectmen  to  provide  powder  at  their  own 
discretion,  which  indicated  a  prudent  regard  for  the  time- 
honored  maxim,  "In  time  of  peace  prepare  for  war." 


The  First  Vote  for  Governor 

On  the  same  day  of  the  annual  town  meeting  of  1812, 
such  inhabitants  of  Garland  as  were  qualified  to  vote  for 
governor,  having  been  duly  warned  in  the  name  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  gave  in  their  votes  for 
governor,  lieutenant  governor  and  three  senators. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


137 


The  First  Voting  List  on  Record 

Names  of  the  inhabitants  of  Garland  legally  qualified 
to  vote  for  governor,  lieutenant  governor,  senators  and 
county  treasurer: 


Josiah  Bartlett. 
Abram  Bond. 
WiUiam  Blaisdell. 
Isaac  Copeland. 
John  Chandler. 
John  M.  Chase. 
James  McCluer. 
William  Dustin. 
Edward  Fifield. 
Cutteon  Zanders. 
Jeremiah  Flanders. 
Joseph  Garland. 
Amos  Gordon. 
John  Gordon. 
Jacob  Garland. 
Benj.  Gil  Patrick,  Jr. 
Thomas  Gilpatrick. 
Phillip  Greeley. 
Moses  Gordon. 
Isaac  Hopkins. 
John  S.  Haskell. 
John  Hayes. 
Manoah  Harriman. 
William  Church. 
John  Saunders. 
Nathaniel  Fifield. 
John  Gi-ant. 
Thos.  Gilpatrick,  Jr. 
Justus  Harriman. 
Enoch  Jackman. 
James  Hutchinson. 


John  Jackman. 
John  Knight. 
Silas  Libbee. 
Simeon  Morgan. 
James  Parker. 
Rev.  John  Sawyer. 
Ezekiel  Straw. 
Moses  Saunders. 
Joseph  Saunders. 
Oliver  Saunders. 
John  Stephens. 
William  Sargent. 
Sampson  Silver. 
Thomas  Tyler. 
John  Trefethen. 
Joseph  Treadwell. 
Sullivan  Tyler. 
Isaac  Wheeler. 
Oliver  Woodward. 
WiUiam  Godwin. 
Enoch  Clough. 
Landeras  Grant. 
Simon  French. 
James  Jackman. 
James  Godwin. 

Selectmen, 

Isaac  Wheeler. 
Thomas  Gilpatrick. 
Josiah  Bartlett. 


138  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

For  Gov(jrnor. 

Hon.  Elbridge  Gerry  had  thirty-five  votes.  Hon. 
Caleb  Strong  had  thirteen  votes.     Scattering,  four  votes. 

For  Lieutenant  Governor. 

Hon.  William  King  had  thirty -seven  votes.  Hon. 
William  Philips  had  fourteen  votes. 

Although  war  with  Great  Britain  had  not  yet  been 
declared,  active  preparations  for  the  anticipated  event 
were  in  progress.  The  preponderance  of  sentiment  in 
the  old  Commonwealth  was  adverse  to  the  war.  But  in 
less  than  three  months  war  was  formally  proclaimed  by 
President  Madison,  whose  term  of  office  would  expire  in 
the  following  March.  The  political  forces  which  would 
determine  whether  or  not  Mr.  Madison  should  be  his 
own  successor,  were  being  marshalled  in  every  town  how- 
ever new,  small  or  remote,  within  the  limits  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  voters  of  Garland  gave  their  approval  to  the  war 
policy  of  President  Madison  by  a  majority  of  almost 
three  to  one. 

History  repeated  itself  when,  in  1864,  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  was  nearing  its  close,  and  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  a  candidate  for  reelection,  the  opposition  declared 
the  war  a  failure  and  went  into  the  campaign  with  that 
as  its  main  issue. 

The  second  meeting  of  the  town  in  1812  was  held  at 
Church's  mills  on  the  25th  of  July. 

The  purpose  of  this  meeting  was  mainly  to  consider 
the  matter  of  roads,  an  account  of  which  will  appear  in 
another  place.  The  only  other  business  transacted  was 
to  instruct  the  selectmen  to  buy  forty  pounds  of  powder 
and  balls  and  flints  in  proportion,  at  the  expense  of  the 
town. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  139 

A  third  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph 
Garland  on  the  24th  day  of  September,  1812,  to  con- 
sider a  school  district  question,  without  result. 

A  fourth  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  second  day  of 
November,  1812,  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq., 
to  consider  the  question  of  school  districts. 


First   Vote   for   Member   of   Congress   for   the 
Kennebec  District 

On  the  second  day  of  November,  1812,  the  voters  of 
Garland  assembled  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq., 
to  give  in  their  votes  for  a  member  of  Congress  to 
represent  the  Kennebec  District,  when  Hon.  James  Carr 
received  seventeen  votes;  Hon.  John  Wilson  received 
seventeen  votes. 


The  First  Vote  for  a  Presidential  Elector 

On  the  12th  day  of  November,  1812,  the  inhabitants 
of  Garland  qualified  to  vote  for  presidential  electors, 
assembled  at  the  house  of  John  Grant  to  give  in  their 
votes  for  that  officer.  Hon.  William  Crosby  received 
twenty-three  votes,  Hon.  James  Campbell  received  four- 
teen votes. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Isaac 
Wheeler,  Esq.,  on  the  17th  of  November,  1812.  This 
meeting  was  devoted  exclusively  to  the  consideration  of 
the  school  question.  The  articles  of  business  named  in 
the  warrant  calling  the  meeting  were  all  "passed  over." 

The  year  1812  closed  the  first  decade  of  the  history 
of  Garland  as  a  township.  It  had  now  been  invested 
with  corporate  powers. 


140  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Construction  of  Early  Houses 

It  has  been  said  that  the  life  of  a  country  or  com- 
munity is  the  essential  fact  of  history.  While  the 
histoiy  of  the  lives  of  the  early  settlers  of  Garland  may 
be  devoid  of  interest  to  the  general  reader,  it  cannot 
fail  to  be  of  interest  to  their  descendants. 

A  very  few  of  the  first  houses  in  Garland,  including 
those  of  the  two  or  three  first  settlers,  were  built  of 
logs.  The  proprietors  of  the  township  had  built  a  saw- 
mill before  other  houses  were  needed.  A  saw-mill  had 
also  been  built  in  the  township  now  known  as  Dexter, 
which  accommodated  the  settlers  of  the  western  and 
northwestern  sections  of  Garland. 

Sawed  lumber  now  took  the  place  of  logs  in  the  con- 
struction of  buildings.  Nails  made  one  by  one,  by  the 
blacksmith  of  the  township  were  used.  The  first  framed 
house  in  the  township  was  built  by  Joseph  Treadwell  for 
John  Tyler,  upon  the  farm  now  owned  by  Charles  Brown. 
Mr.  Treadwell  was  the  grandfather  of  our  present  citi- 
zen, Joseph  Treadwell.  He  came  from  New  Gloucester, 
Maine,  in  the  summer  of  1802,  on  horseback,  bringing 
his  tools  with  him,  cut,  hewed  and  framed  the  timber 
and  hauled  it  to  the  building  site,  raised  and  covered  the 
walls  and  roof  the  same  summer.  He  finished  the  house 
in  the  summer  of  1808.  A  gambrel  roof  covered  the 
body  of  the  house. 

To  the  regret  of  many  of  our  older  citizens,  this 
quaint  old  house  gave  place  to  one  of  more  modern  con- 
struction years  ago. 

The  early  houses  had,  as  a  general  rule,  only  a  single 
room  upon  the  ground  floor.  In  this,  the  unwieldy 
loom,  the  spinning-wheel,  and  bed  for  the  heads  of  the 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  141 

family  found  place.  There  were  no  partitions  save  as 
quilts  and  comforters  served  as  such.  The  pride  of  the 
housewife  was  the  large,  red  dresser,  with  open  shelves  at 
the  top,  where  were  displayed  the  shining  rows  of  bright 
tin  dishes. 

A  heavy  cleat  door,  swinging  on  wooden  hinges, 
furnished  with  a  wooden  latch,  indicated  the  place  of 
ingress  and  exit. 

On  the  outside,  the  door  was  opened  by  a  string 
attached  to  the  latch,  which  passed  through  a  hole  above 
it  to  the  inside.  When  the  family  retired  at  night,  the 
string  was  pulled  in  for  the  safety  of  its  inmates.  The 
second  floor  was  of  rough  boards  or  splits  placed  across 
the  floor  timbers.  Sometimes  straight  poles  laid  closely 
together  across  the  floor  timbers  were  made  to  do  service 
as  a  floor.     The  second  floor  was  reached  by  a  ladder. 


How   Houses   Were  Warmed 

*'Shut  in  from  all  the  world  without 
We  sat  the  clean-winged  hearth  about; 
Content  to  let  the  north  wind  roar 
With  baffled  rage  at  pane  and  door, 
While  the  red  logs  before  us  beat 
The  frost  line  back  with  tropic  heat. 

"What  matter  how  the  night  behaved  ? 
What  matter  how  the  north  wind  raved  ? 
Blow  high,  blow  low,  not  all  its  snow 
Could  quench  our  house  fires'  ruddy  glow." 

— Whittier. 

The  capacious  stone  fire-place  with  smoke  flues  of 
boards  or  sticks  imbedded  in  clay  mortar,  was  a  marked 
feature  of  the  early  homes.  Such  chimneys  were  some- 
times burned  without  much  injury  to  the  house. 


142  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  various  appliances  for  kindling  fires  at  the  present 
time  were  then  unknown. 

It  was  therefore  necessaiy  to  preserve  fire  from  night 
until  morning.  This  was  done  by  protecting  the  glow- 
ing coals  with  an  ample  covering  of  ashes.  In  case  of 
failure  to  preserve  the  fire  through  the  night,  the  only 
resort  was  to  borrow  from  the  nearest  neighbor  regard- 
less of  distance. 


An  All-Day  Fire 

The  first  thing  of  a  cold  winter  morning  was  to  lay 
the  foundation  for  an  all-day  fire.  The  ample  bed  of 
coals,  that  had  reposed  under  a  covering  of  ashes,  was 
scraped  aside  with  the  large  iron  shovel.  A  log  of  birch 
or  maple  of  the  average  size  of  eighteen  or  twenty  inches 
in  diameter  had  been  drawn  in  on  a  hand  sled  or  raised 
up  on  end  and  hitched  along,  first  on  one  corner  and 
then  the  other.  This  was  placed  in  the  back  of  the  fire- 
place and  upon  it  a  back  log  was  laid.  A  large  fore- 
stick  was  placed  on  the  andirons  in  front.  Stones  were 
sometimes  used  in  place  of  andirons.  The  foundation  of 
the  all-day  fire  was  now  complete.  Kindlings  and  fine 
wood,  dried  between  the  jambs  of  the  capacious  fire- 
place, were  used  to  start  the  fire.  In  due  time  the 
"frost  line"  was  forced  back  towards  the  rear  of  the 
room. 

The  open  fire  was  used  to  cook  the  food  of  the  family. 
In  the  long-handled  frying-pan,  heated  by  the  glowing 
coals,  meat,  fish  and  game  were  cooked.  Indian  meal, 
rye  meal,  and  rye  and  Indian  meal  mixed,  were  spread 
upon  long,  shoal  tins  and  baked  by  the  heat  of  the  open 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  148 

fire.  A  fat,  nicely  dressed  chicken  or  other  fowl,  hang- 
ing by  the  legs  before  the  glowing  coals  of  the  huge  fire- 
place, held  by  a  flaxen  string  fastened  to  the  floor  tim- 
bers above,  was  not  an  unusual  sight. 


How  the  Houses  Were  Lighted 

The  blaze  of  the  large  open  fire  furnished  all  the  light 
needed  in  the  main  room  for  ordinary  purposes.  If  the 
boys  and  girls  desired  light  to  prepare  their  lessons  for 
the  next  day's  school,  they  would  bring  pine  knots  from 
the  forest  for  the  needed  additional  light. 

Portable  lights  were  prepared  by  coiling  a  narrow  piece 
of  twisted  cotton  cloth  in  a  dish  of  lard.  Tallow 
candles  run  in  moulds  came  into  early  use. 


Furniture  of  the  Times 

The  furniture  of  the  early  settlers,  if  indeed  the  word 
thus  used  is  not  a  misnomer,  was  of  the  rudest  descrip- 
tion. The  substitutes  were  such  as  could  be  made  with 
the  saw,  axe,  auger  and  shave,  supplemented  by  nails 
from  the  hands  of  the  common  blacksmith. 


144  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 


The  Clothing  of  the  Inhabitants 

"I  hear  the  humming  of  the  wheel — 

Strange  music  of  the  days  gone  by — 
I  hear  the  clicking  of  the  reel, 
Once  more  I  see  the  spindle  fly : 

How  then  I  wondered  at  the  thread 
That  narrowed  from  the  snowy  wool, 
Much  more  to  see  the  pieces  wed, 
And  wind  upon  the  whirling  spool." 

— Walter  Bruce. 

The  materials  that  entered  into  the  clothing  of  the 
early  settlers  were  wool,  linen  and  cotton.  Some  of 
them  brought  woolen  yarn  from  the  homes  of  their  child- 
hood. Sheep  in  small  numbers  were  early  brought  into 
the  township.  Almost  every  family  cultivated  a  small 
piece  of  flax,  which  when  ready  for  harvest,  was  cut  and 
spread  evenly  in  rows,  where  it  remained  until  the  bark 
of  the  plant  that  concealed  the  long,  fine  fiber  was 
decomposed  by  the  influences  of  sun,  dew  and  rain. 
Then  under  cover  of  barn  or  shed  it  was  passed  through 
a  flax-brake,  a  clumsy  wooden  machine  worked  by  hand. 
This  was  the  first  step  in  the  process  of  ridding  the  fiber 
of  the  bark.  The  process  was  completed  by  the  use  of 
a  large  wooden  knife,  called  a  swingling-knife,  by  which 
the  fiber  was  cleared  of  the  small  pieces  of  bark  still 
adhering  to  it. 

The  fiber  was  then  passed  through  the  hatchel  to  free 
it  from  the  short,  coarse  fiber  called  tow,  which  was  util- 
ized for  various  purposes.  It  was  now  drawn  into  thread 
on  the  small  wheel  and  woven  into  cloth  which  was  used 
as  clothing  for  men,  women  and  children,  also  for  table 
linen  and  toweling. 

Any  surplus  above  the  wants  of  the  family  was  readily 
sold  in  Bangor.  It  was  often  exchanged  for  cotton, 
which  in  turn  was  manufactured  on  the  wheel  and  loom 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  145 

for  home  use  or  sale.      Cotton  and  wool  were  also  trans- 
formed into  cloth  by  wheel  and  loom. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  that  the  spinning  and  weaving 
of  the  early  days  were  irksome  to  those  who  performed 
them.  To  the  ears  of  the  ambitious  housewife,  the  hum 
of  the  wheel  upon  which  the  thread  was  drawn  from  the 
wool,  and  the  rattle  of  the  shuttle,  passing  swiftly  back 
and  forth  between  the  warp  and  woof,  associated  as  they 
were  with  the  future  comfort  of  husband  and  children, 
were  music  as  inspiring  as  that  of  band  or  orchestra. 
The  movements  of  the  maiden,  vieing  with  the  mother 
for  excellence  of  achievement  at  the  wheel,  were  as  grace- 
ful as  any  in  the  fashionable  ballroom. 


Their  Food 

The  food  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  township  was 
simple  and  substantial.  Salt  pork,  salt  beef,  game  and 
fish  from  forest  and  stream,  entered  largely  into  their 
food  supply.  Johnny  cakes,  rye  cakes,  and  cakes  of  rye 
and  Indian  meal  mixed,  were  baked  in  oblong  tins  by  the 
heat  of  the  coals  of  the  open  fire. 

This  was  before  brick  ovens  came  into  use.  Hasty 
puddings  were  also  relished.  In  some  families  bean  por- 
ridge was  a  favorite  and  convenient  dish.  It  could  be 
made  in  large  quantities  and  its  keeping  qualities  were 
good,  as  according  to  the  old  proverb,  bean  porridge  hot 
or  cold,  is  best  when  nine  days  old. 

The  soil  of  the  township  was  well  adapted  to  the  pro- 
duction of  wheat,  and  sometimes  forty  bushels  of  that 
cereal  were  produced  on  a  single  acre  of  land.  Wheat 
flour  entered  but  slightly  into  the  food  supply  of  the 


146  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

period,  on  account  of  lack  of  machinery  to  manufacture 
it  into  flour. 


A  Luxury 

Maple  syi-up  was  one  of  the  few  luxuries  of  the  early 
settlers.  The  boys  of  the  families  looked  forward  to 
the  season  of  its  manufacture  with  fond  anticipations. 
The  methods  employed  were  of  a  rude  character. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February  the  work  of  preparation 
was  begun.  By  the  aid  of  the  gimlet  and  jack-knife, 
wooden  conductors  were  made  to  carry  the  sap  into 
troughs,  which  were  used  instead  of  the  tin  pails  of  the 
present  time.  The  troughs  were  made  from  logs  of 
basswood,  about  three  and  one  half  feet  in  length,  and 
fifteen  to  eighteen  inches  in  diameter,  split  into  halves, 
which  were  hollowed  with  an  axe,  and  subjected  to  heat 
to  close  the  pores  of  the  wood  to  prevent  leakage. 

When  the  period  for  active  operations  arrived,  the 
troughs  and  conductors  were  distributed  to  the  trees  of 
the  sugar  orchard.  Small  holes  from  four  to  five  inches 
deep  were  bored  into  the  tree,  three  to  four  feet  from 
the  ground,  into  which  the  conductors  were  driven. 

The  clumsy  troughs  were  placed  to  receive  the  sap  as 
it  ran  from  the  trees,  which  was  generally  gathered  in 
the  morning,  and  poured  into  a  receptacle  placed  at  a 
central  point. 

Two  or  more  iron  kettles  were  suspended  from  a  hori- 
zontal pole  far  enough  from  the  ground  to  allow  a  hot 
fire  beneath  them,  which  forced  the  water  off,  leaving 
the  syrup  for  the  delectation  of  family  and  friends. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  147 

Social  Life 

Separated  from  parents,  brothers  and  sisters,  and  the 
companions  of  their  earlier  life,  and  subjected  to  hard- 
ships and  privations  common  to  them  all,  the  primitive 
settlers  who  met  as  strangers  became  fast  friends  at  sight. 
Scattered  over  the  entire  area  of  the  township,  through 
the  mistaken  policy  of  the  original  proprietors,  the 
interchange  of  visits  was  much  less  frequent  than  would 
have  been  the  case  had  they  been  compactly  located. 

They  were  a  very  hospitable  people,  and  the  latch- 
string  was  always  out,  not  only  to  the  inhabitants  of 
their  own  township,  but  to  those  of  other  townships. 

Visits  were  more  common  in  winter  than  in  summer. 
The  men  were  more  at  leisure.  Horse  or  ox-teams  could 
be  driven  at  will  among  the  trees  at  this  season.  A  pair 
of  quick-moving  steers  hitched  to  a  common  ox-sled  was 
regarded  as  a  good  turnout. 

John  Morgan,  one  of  the  early  settlei-s  of  the  town- 
ship now  known  as  Dexter,  who  was  on  neighborly  terms 
with  the  people  of  Garland,  was  accustomed  to  boast  of 
a  more  aristocratic  turnout  than  any  of  his  neighbors 
possessed.  He  was  the  owner  of  a  carpenter's  bench 
which,  turned  bottom  up  on  his  ox  sled,  was  supplied 
with  a  generous  layer  of  clean  straw  whereon  his  family 
could  rest  their  feet,  and  seats  of  boards,  supported  by 
the  sides  of  the  bench.  The  visiting  party  being  pro- 
tected by  comforters  and  quilts,  and  the  quick-moving 
oxen  attached  to  the  sled,  now  started  joyously  on  their 
way  to  friends  who  were  ready  to  receive  them  with  open 
arms. 

In  summer  the  people  went  from  house  to  house  on  foot 
or  horseback.  The  conditions  of  life  in  the  new  township 
which  have  been  described,  refer  particularly  to  the  first 
ten  years  of  its  history. 


148  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND.     MAINE 


The  Conquest  of  the  Forest 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  the  township 
was  covered  with  a  heavy  forest  growth.  There  were 
gigantic  maples  whose  spreading  tops  had  waved  in  the 
storms  of  centuries,  and  whose  massive  trunks  having  no 
marketable  value  were  relentlessly  consigned  to  the  flames. 
There  were  also  the  tall,  towering  pines  whose  trunks 
had  never  been  disfigured  by  the  ''King's  mark." 
Intermingled  with  these,  were  many  varieties  of  humbler 
growth,  all  of  which  must  give  way  to  sunlight  and 
civilization. 

The  removal  of  this  imposing  forest  growth  required 
courage  and  muscle,  both  of  which  the  pioneers  of  the 
township  possessed  in  large  measure.  The  felling  of  the 
trees  was  generally  performed  in  the  month  of  June. 

Armed  with  his  favorite  axe  of  polished  steel  and  keen 
edge,  the  pioneer  commenced  his  attack  upon  that 
portion  of  the  forest  that  came  within  the  scope  of  the 
year's  plans.  After  a  careful  inspection  of  the  configu- 
ration of  the  ground,  and  the  inclination  of  the  trees,  he 
chopped  into  both  sides  of  each,  on  a  strip  of  one  to 
two  rods  wide,  and  of  indefinite  length.  One  of  the 
giants  of  the  forest  with  widely  spreading  branches  was 
then  felled,  which,  descending  with  great  force,  carried 
with  it  the  trees  next  in  range,  and  these,  in  turn, 
carrying  others,  until  all  that  had  been  nitched  reached 
the  ground  with  a  terrific  crash.  This  in  the  vernacular 
of  the  period  was  a  ''drive."  The  breaking  of  the 
strong,  coarse  fibers  of  the  trees,  subjected  to  this 
irresistible  force,  was  sometimes  heard  on  a  clear,  still 
morning,  two  or  three  miles  away,  and  was  strikingly 
suggestive  of  human  agony. 

The  next  step  in  clearing  land  was  the  dropping    of 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  149 

the  limbs  from  the  prostrated  trunks  of  the  trees,  with 
the  axe,  the  only  tool  which  has  not  been  radically 
changed  in  form  within  the  last  one  hundred  years. 

The  limbs  and  leaves  were  packed  together  to  facili- 
tate the  burning  when  the  torch  should  be  applied  in 
the  coming  autumn,  or  more  frequently,  in  the  following 
spring.  When  the  large  amount  of  combustible  matter 
was  believed  to  be  in  condition  for  a  '  'good  burn, ' '  fires 
were  started  at  different  points. 

The  terrific  roaring  of  the  flames,  as  they  leaped  from 
point  to  point,  rising  above  the  surrounding  tree  tops^ 
and  the  dense  volume  of  smoke  that  shut  off  the  light 
of  the  sun,  lingered  in  the  memories  of  our  fathers  until 
the  end  of  life. 

The  "felled  piece"  having  been  cleared  of  the  leaves 
and  small  limbs  by  fire,  the  work  of  hand-piling  was 
next  in  order.  This  meant  the  piling  by  hand  of  the 
larger  limbs  and  brands  that  had  not  been  reduced  to 
ashes.  When  these  piles  were  burned,  the  land  was 
ready  for  the  reception  of  seed,  from  which  sprang  the 
first  crops,  embracing  corn  and  subsidiary  crops,  such  as 
potatoes,  beans,  and  garden  vegetables. 


Planting  Com 

Com  and  other  seeds  were  planted  on  the  patches  of 
land  between  the  blackened  trunks  of  the  prostrate  trees. 

The  planter  provided  himself  with  a  little  bag  which 
was  suspended  from  his  waist,  filled  with  seed,  and  a  hoe 
with  a  blade  about  three  inches  wide,  with  a  handle 
fifteen  to  eighteen  inches  long.  With  his  strong  right 
ai-m,  he  thrust  the  hoe  through  the  scurf  on  the  surface 


150  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

of  the  ground  into  the  underlying  loam,  threw  the  seed 
into  the  incision,  and  pressing  the  earth  above  the  seed 
with  his  foot,  he  passed  on,  repeating  the  process  until 
the  planting  was  completed. 

If  he  had  been  favored  with  a  '  'good  burn, ' '  only  a 
little  labor  was  required  from  the  planting  to  the  har- 
vesting of  the  crop. 

There  were  two  classes  of  harvesters,  bipedal  and 
quadrupedal.  As  soon  as  the  kernels  of  corn  began  to 
take  form  on  the  cob,  the  bears  and  smaller  quadrupeds 
began  their  harvesting.  Various  expedients  were  put  in 
requisition  to  limit  the  depredation  of  these  animals, 
but  not  with  entire  success. 

But  in  spite  of  these  drawbacks,  the  pioneer  obtained 
a  fair  crop  of  corn,  any  surplus  of  which,  above  the 
needs  of  his  family,  entered  into  the  currency  of  the 
period  at  prices  fixed  by  common  custom. 

The  next  step  in  clearing  land  was  to  divest  it  of  the 
trunks  of  the  trees  that  were  scattered  over  it.  These 
were  cut  into  sections,  hauled  together,  placed  in  piles, 
and  burned.  The  land  was  now  ready  for  the  crop  of 
the  second  year. 

The  second  crop,  in  the  first  ten  years  of  the  town- 
ship's history,  was  more  often  a  crop  of  rye  than  any 
other,  because  there  were  early  facilities  to  grind  it. 
The  soil  was  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  wheat,  but 
this  crop  was  neglected  on  account  of  the  lack  of  the 
more  expensive  machinery  for  reducing  it  to  flour. 
Bread  of  rye  meal,  mixed  with  corn  meal,  was  regarded 
as  excellent  food. 

Grass  seed  was  sown  with  the  grain  for  the  second 
crop,  and  the  grass  springing  therefrom,  became  the  crop 
of  the  third  year.  The  pioneer  enlarged  his  "opening" 
each  year  by  the  process  that  has  been  described,  and 
the  same  alternation  of  crops  followed  in  each  triennial 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  151 

period,  until  at  midsummer,  his  eyes  were  greeted  with 
waving  crops  of  grass  and  grain,  and  in  autumn,  he 
received  the  cheerful  salutations  of  his  tasseled  corn,  and 
watched  the  gambols  of  his  growing  flocks. 

He  now  enters  a  new  decade.  The  township  having 
assumed  a  corporate  existence,  had  exchanged  the  elon- 
gated name  of  Lincolntown  for  the  euphonic  name  of 
Garland.  The  first  kiln  of  bricks  having  been  made  in 
1812,  upon  the  old  homestead  of  the  late  William  S. 
Haskell,  the  huge  stone  fire-places  began  to  give  way  to 
brick  fire-places  and  ovens. 


Garland  in  1813 

The  annual  town  meeting  of  1813,  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Isaac  Wheeler  on  the  5th  day  of  April.  Josiah 
Bai*tlett  was  chosen  moderator,  Jacob  Garland,  town 
clerk,  Isaac  Wheeler,  William  Blaisdell  and  Joseph 
Garland,  selectmen  and  assessors.  The  Rev.  John 
Sawyer,  Isaac  Wheeler  and  Joseph  Garland  were  chosen 
superintending  school  committee. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for 
schools,  six  hundred  dollars  for  highways,  and  one 
hundred  dollars  for  town  charges.  It  was  voted  to  pay 
town  charges  and  school  money  in  corn,  rye  and  wheat, 
at  six,  seven  and  nine  shillings  per  bushel  respectively. 

Town  meetings  were  not  of  so  frequent  occurrence  in 
1813  as  in  the  two  preceding  years. 

The  second  and  last  meeting  for  municipal  purposes  in 
1813,  was  held  on  the  30th  of  October,  at  the  house  of 
Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  and  was  devoted  to  the  considera- 
tion of  roads  and  bridges. 


162  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


West  Garland 

A  building  was  erected  at  West  Garland  about  the 
year  1813,  possibly  a  year  earlier,  by  Stephen  Kimball, 
a  citizen  of  Bangor,  and  Abner  Sanborn,  who  was  after- 
wards for  several  years  a  prominent  citizen  of  Garland, 
for  the  purpose  of  wool-carding  and  cloth  dressing. 

Messrs.  Kimball  and  Sanborn  put  up  a  building,  also, 
for  the  manufacture  of  potash  from  wood-ashes,  of  which 
the  large  quantities  of  hard-wood  consumed  in  the 
capacious  fire-places  of  the  times,  afforded  an  abundant 
supply. 

Asa  Soule,  who  afterwards  made  a  beginning  on  the 
land  adjoining  the  town  farm,  was  given  charge  of  the 
wool-carding  and  cloth  dressing  business.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Benjamin  Mayo,  a  brother  of  the  late  John 
G.  Mayo,  the  well  known  manufacturer  of  Foxcroft. 

About  the  same  time  Edward  Fifield  built  a  saw  and 
grist-mill  upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  mills  of 
Lewis  Crowell.  He  also  built  a  house  which  was  his 
home  for  several  years. 

In  the  early  efforts  to  utilize  the  water-power  at  the 
outlet  of  Pleasant  Pond,  the  present  village  at  West 
Garland  had  its  origin.  In  later  years,  and  farther 
down  on  the  stream,  Horace  Gordon  and  his  son,  H. 
Lester  Gordon,  have  used  the  water  power  at  West  Gar- 
land for  manufacturing  purposes.  Still  farther  down 
Amos  Gordon  has  a  saw  and  shingle-mill. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  153 

Garland  in  1814 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  on  the  4th  day  of  April. 
Josiah  Bartlett  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Jacob  Gar- 
land, town  clerk.  Ezekiel  Straw,  Benjamin  Gilpatrick 
Jr. ,  and  Isaac  Copeland  were  chosen  selectmen  and  assess- 
ors, and  Is£iac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  was  chosen  treasurer. 
Rev.  John  Sawyer,  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  and  Abner 
Sanborn  were  chosen  superintending  school  committee. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  eight  hundred  dollars  for 
highways,  two  hundred  dollars  for  schools,  seventy-five 
dollars  to  defray  town  charges  and  fifty  dollars  to  buy 
powder  and  balls.  The  treasurer  was  voted  a  compen- 
sation of  six  dollars,  and  the  collector  was  allowed  five 
and  three  quarters  per  cent,  for  collecting  taxes. 

The  election  of  state  and  county  officers  was  held  the 
same  day. 

For  Governor. 

William  Dexter  received  twenty-four  votes.  Caleb 
Strong  received  twenty-two  votes. 

For  Lieutenant  Governor. 

William  Gray  received  twenty-four  votes.  William 
Phillips  received  twenty -four  votes. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  on  December  3d,  1814,  one 
of  the  items  in  the  warrant  was  to  see  if  the  town  would 
vote  to  lay  out  a  road  from  the  Lake,  so  called,  to  Exe- 
ter line.  The  swampy  land  lying  between  the  present 
residences  of  John  Campbell  and  Henry  M.  Paine,  south 
of  Garland  village,  was  for  many  years  known  as  the 
Lake.  The  incidents  that  suggested  this  name  have 
been  narrated  on  a  preceding  page. 


164  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


The  War  of  1812 

To  the  inhabitants  of  the  Penobscot  Valley,  the  year 
1814  was  a  year  of  excitement.  The  war  with  England 
had  been  in  progress  for  two  years,  but  hitherto  it  had 
been  waged  at  a  distance.  Now  it  was  nearing,  and  cit- 
izens of  military  age  were  in  constant  expectancy  of 
being  called  into  active  service. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  1814,  the  United  States  ship 
of  war,  the  Adams,  carrying  twenty-five  guns,  was  driven 
by  stress  of  weather  upon  rocks  near  the  Isle  au  Haut,  a 
small  island  near  the  southern  limits  of  Penobscot  Bay, 
and  disabled.  Her  gallant  commander.  Captain  Morris, 
immediately  took  her  up  the  river  to  Hampden  for 
repairs.  The  Adams  had  been  preying  upon  English 
commerce,  having  captured  several  English  vessels  within 
the  preceding  three  months.  For  these  reasons  she  was 
to  the  English  an  ardently  coveted  prize.  When  the 
accident  to  the  Adams,  and  its  locality,  had  come  to  the 
ears  of  the  enemy,  its  capture  was  immediately  deter- 
mined upon.  On  the  first  day  of  September,  1814, 
Captain  Morris  of  the  Adams  was  waited  on  by  a  mes- 
senger who  had  come  in  hot  haste  to  inform  him  that 
several  English  vessels  were  making  their  way  up  the  river. 

Captain  Morris,  well  knowing  that  the  coming  of  the 
enemy  meant  a  desperate  attempt  to  capture  the  Adams, 
hastened  to  establish  a  battery  of  fourteen  guns  upon  the 
wharf,  and  another  of  nine  guns  on  an  elevation  fifty  rods 
down  the  river.  While  the  mariners  were  placing  the 
guns  in  position.  Captain  Morris,  obtaining  an  interview 
with  General  Blake,  who  was  in  command  of  the  land 
forces,  assured  him  that  if  he  could  be  protected  from  a 
flank  movement  by  the  enemy's  forces,  he  could  easily 
arrest  the  passage  of  his  vessels  up  river.     This  inter- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  155 

view,  at  which  some  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Hamp- 
den and  vicinity  were  present,  disclosed  a  fatal  lack  of 
decision  and  unity  of  sentiment  as  to  what  should  be 
done  in  the  emergency  that  confronted  them.  Some  of 
the  citizens  fearing  that  resistance  would  lead  to  the 
destruction  of  the  town  were  in  favor  of  throwing  them- 
selves upon  the  magnanimity  of  the  enemy. 

Captain  Morris  declared  in  a  few  brief  and  burning 
words  that  nothing  could  be  hoped  from  British  mag- 
nanimity, and  added — "Keep  the  enemy  from  outflank- 
ing me  and  I  will  arrest  the  passage  of  his  vessels  up  the 
river.  These  are  our  respective  duties,  and  we  must  dis- 
charge them." 

At  the  close  of  the  interview.  Captain  Morris  returned 
to  the  wharf  to  complete  arrangements  there,  and 
General  Blake  entered  upon  the  work  of  making  a  dis- 
position of  his  forces  which  numbered  about  five  hundred 
men.  Early  in  the  morning  of  September  8d  the  enemy 
began  to  move  towards  the  American  line  of  defense. 
A  heavy  fog  resting  upon  the  river  and  banks  covered  his 
incipient  movements.  Soon  the  British  regulars  emerged 
from  the  fog,  and  moved  towards  the  position  held  by 
General  Blake.  Their  firm  and  regular  movement,  confi- 
dent bearing,  and  imposing  uniforms,  carried  teiTor  to 
General  Blake's  undisciplined  troops.  After  an  exchange 
of  a  few  rounds.  General  Blake's  line  gave  way  near  the 
center,  which  was  followed  by  a  general  and  precipitate 
retreat. 

Captain  Morris,  soon  finding  his  position  untenable, 
spiked  his  guns,  set  fire  to  his  vessel,  and  with  his  men 
made  his  escape  to  Bangor. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  the  purpose  of  this  narrative  to 
describe  in  detail  the  various  acts  of  "magnanimity" 
toward  those  confiding  citizens  who  exhibited  such  eager 


156  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

readiness  to  throw  themselves  upon  the  mercy  of  an  inso 
lent  and  relentless  foe. 


Garland's  First  Military  Company 

At  the  beginning  of  the  War  of  1812,  through  the 
agency  of  Captain  Isaac  Hodsdon  of  Corinth,  afterwards 
widely  known  as  Major  General  Hodsdon,  a  company  of 
militia  was  organized  at  Garland.  Captain  Hodsdon 
was  a  young  man  of  great  military  enthusiasm  and 
marked  ability,  and  an  ardent  supporter  of  President 
Madison's  administration. 

The  members  of  the  company,  over  thirty  in  number, 
met  at  the  barn  of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  and  organized 
by  the  election  of  Thomas  S.  Tyler,  captain;  Isaac 
Copeland,  lieutenant,  and  William  Blaisdell,  ensign. 
Despite  the  apparent  general  acquiescence  in  the  pro- 
priety of  a  military  company,  there  was  a  secret  and 
strong  opposition  to  it  that  had  been  quieted  by  the  tact 
of  Captain  Hodsdon,  but  not  subdued.  The  reasons 
assigned  by  the  opposition  were  that  the  isolated  position 
of  the  town  should  exempt  its  citizens  from  military  ser- 
vice, and  that  the  cost  to  the  members  of  the  company 
for  arms  and  equipments,  added  to  other  burdens  of 
their  condition,  would  be  a  great  hardship. 

There  was,  also,  a  political  reason  that  was  at  the 
basis  of  opposition  of  some  of  the  citizens.  This  was 
opposition  to  the  existing  national  administration,  and 
to  the  war  then  in  progress. 

From  the  considerations  that  have  been  named  there 
resulted  a  tacit  understanding  that,  at  the  expiration  of 
the  time  allowed  the  officers-elect  to  decide  whether  they 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  157 

would  accept  the  commissions  they  had  been  offered,  they 
would  decline  them.  Such  action  would  make  it  neces- 
sary to  go  over  the  ground  again  and  involve  delay. 

In  defiance  of  the  expectations  of  the  citizens,  the 
officers-elect  accepted  the  commissions  tendered  them, 
and  the  company  became  a  verity. 

The  holding  a  military  office  in  these  days  was  a 
distinction  that  appealed  to  the  pride  of  the  ambitious, 
and  some  of  the  citizens  of  Garland  were  uncharitable 
enough  to  charge  that  the  honor  of  military  titles  was 
the  motive  that  led  the  officers-elect  to  accept  commis- 
sions in  violation  of  promises  not  to  do  so. 

The  organization  of  the  company  having  been  effected, 
its  members  were  called  together  at  regular  intervals  for 
inspection  and  drill. 


A  Midnight  Summons 

The  night  of  September  2d,  1814,  was  dark  and 
rainy.  The  citizens  of  Garland  had  retired  to  rest  at 
the  usual  hour  with  no  suspicion  that  their  slumbers 
would  be  disturbed  until  the  light  of  morning  called 
them  to  the  duties  of  a  new  day. 

At  the  midnight  hour  the  family  of  Moses  Gordon 
was  awakened  by  the  galloping  of  a  horse  into  their 
dooryard,  quickly  followed  by  a  violent  rapping  at  their 
door.  Promptly  presenting  himself,  Mr.  Gordon  was 
confronted  by  a  well-known  citizen  of  Exeter,  Jonathan 
Palmer,  whose  nervous  and  excited  bearing  indicated 
startling  news. 

The  British,  he  said,  having  captured  Castine  were  on 
their    way    up    the    Penobscot    to    capture    the   frigate 


158  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Adams,  lying  at  the  wharf  at  Hampden  for  repairs,  and 
to  make  an  attack  on  Bangor.  The  company  in  Gar- 
land must  be  ordered  at  once  to  report  forthwith  for 
service  at  Hampden.  A  few  minutes  later,  Mr.  Gordon 
was  in  the  saddle  riding  at  the  top  of  the  horse's  speed 
to  the  residence  of  Captain  Tyler,  who  lived  where 
Thomas  McComb  now  lives.  The  slumbers  of  Captain 
Tyler  were  as  rudely  interrupted  as  had  been  those  of 
Mr.  Gordon  a  half  hour  earlier. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  ordered  to  warn  the  company  to 
appear  at  the  residence  of  Isaac  Wheeler  forthwith  with 
arms  and  equipments.  Disregarding  darkness,  rain  and 
rough  roads,  Mr.  Gordon  executed  Captain  Tyler's 
order  with  remarkable  dispatch.  Nearly  all  the  men 
answered  to  the  roll-call  in  the  morning. 

Early  in  the  day  of  September  3d,  the  company  was 
on  its  way  towards  Hampden.  Most  of  the  men  had 
provided  themselves  with  horses.  The  company  moved 
on  without  special  incident  until  they  reached  Levant, 
now  Kenduskeag.  Here  a  rumor  reached  their  ears  that 
the  enemy  had  passed  Hampden  and  was  in  possession 
of  Bangor.  But  the  company  moved  forward  until  it 
reached  the  foot  of  the  long  declivity,  now  known  as  the 
Jameson  Hill,  where  they  met  a  squad  of  marines  from 
the  Adams,  who  confirmed  the  rumor. 

After  abandoning  the  Adams,  Captain  Morris  and  his 
men  proceeded  directly  to  Bangor,  with  the  purpose  of 
getting  to  Portland  by  the  way  of  the  Kennebec.  At 
Bangor,  he  divided  his  men  into  three  squads,  and  as  the 
country  between  the  Penobscot  and  Kennebec  was 
sparsely  settled,  he  ordered  the  several  squads  to  go  from 
the  one  river  to  the  other,  by  different  routes,  to  insure 
adequate  subsistence  on  the  road.  One  of  these  squads 
came  to  Kenduskeag,  and  from  this  point  took  a  westerly 
course  to  the  Kennebec  River. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  159 

It  was  this  squad  the  Garland  company  met  at  the 
foot  of  the  Jameson  Hill,  and  which  confirmed  the 
rumor  of  the  occupation  of  Hampden  and  Bangor  by 
the  British.  As  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  continu- 
ing the  march  towards  the  place  of  the  late  conflict,  the 
larger  part  of  the  Garland  company  turned  their  faces 
homeward. 

Individuals  of  the  company,  however,  pushed  on  to 
get  a  sight  of  the  insolent  and  hated  redcoats. 

The  movements  of  the  marines  having  for  many 
months  been  confined  to  the  vessel's  deck,  some  of  them 
had  become  footsore  and  lame  by  their  hurried  march 
over  the  rough  roads  through  the  forest.  Our  men  from 
Garland  having  heard  of  the  exploits  of  these  marines  in 
the  capture  of  British  vessels,  were  filled  with  admira- 
tion for  their  bravery,  and  sympathy  for  their  present 
hardships.  It  was,  therefore,  with  patriotic  satisfaction 
that  they  off*ered  these  tired  marines  the  use  of  their 
horses  to  carry  them  to  Kenduskeag,  where  they  were  to 
be  served  with  a  substantial  dinner  by  Moses  Hodsdon, 
and  the  horses  were  to  be  left  for  their  owners. 

But  the  Garland  soldiers  found  to  their  son*ow  that 
brave  men  were  not  always  strictly  honest.  Several  of 
the  marines  seemed  to  believe  that  an  extension  of  their 
ride  was  of  more  consequence  to  themselves  than  a  good 
dinner  at  Hodsdon's,  or  the  fulfillment  of  their  promises 
to  their  benefactors.  They,  therefore,  skipped  the  din- 
ner and  rode  on.  Moses  Gordon  was  one  of  the  victims 
of  misplaced  confidence,  and  in  company  with  others,  he 
borrowed  a  horse,  and  went  in  pursuit.  Darkness  soon 
enveloped  the  pursuing  party,  which  coming  to  an  old 
camp  in  the  woods,  within  the  limits  of  the  present 
town  of  Stetson,  turned  in  and  spent  the  night. 

Starting  early  in  the  moraing,  they  reached  the  camp 
of  the  fugitives,  in  the  same  town,  as  they  were  about  to 


160  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

resume  their  day's  march.  Being  sharply  rebuked  for 
their  treachery,  they  declared  with  an  expression  of 
injured  innocence,  that  they  were  then  exactly  where,  as 
they  understood  it,  the  horses  were  to  be  left. 

An  incident  occurred  on  the  return  march  of  the  Gar- 
land company  which  greatly  amused  the  rank  and  file. 
They  were  moving  leisurely  along,  talking  of  the  excit- 
ing events  of  the  previous  night,  and  of  the  morning's 
march,  when  suddenly  there  emerged  from  the  shadows 
of  the  heavy  forest  growth  a  tall,  lean,  cadaverous  speci- 
men of  humanity,  with  a  high  forehead  and  elongated 
chin,  who  approached  them,  musket  in  hand,  with  long 
and  rapid  strides.  The  perspiration  was  running  down 
his  cheeks  in  streams,  and  he  presented  an  aspect  of 
fierce  determination  that  boded  peril  to  some  invisible 
foe,  whatever  the  form,  or  wherever  the  locality  of  that 
foe. 

He  was  making  his  way  with  such  impetuosity  that  he 
scarcely  slackened  his  pace  to  notice  the  returning 
soldiers,  much  less  to  inquire  into  the  logic  of  their 
movement  from,  instead  of  towards,  his  supposed  theatre 
of  conflict.  But  they  challenged  his  attention  so  sharply 
that  he  lingered  with  ill  concealed  impatience  to  hear 
their  explanations,  then  resuming  his  march  with  accel- 
erated movement,  he  exclaimed,  "I  don't  care — I  will 
have  one  shot  at  the  redcoats  anyway ! ' ' 

During  his  parley  with  the  soldiers,  he  was  recognized 
as  a  prominent  citizen  of  Exeter,  and  it  should  be  said 
that  when  in  normal  condition,  he  was  a  man  of  good 
personal  appearance. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  161 

Enlistments 

Not  many  of  the  citizens  of  Garland  enlisted  in  the 
War  of  1812.  Simon  French,  the  father  of  our  citizen, 
the  late  Eben  French,  enlisted  in  one  of  the  two  com- 
panies detached  from  General  Blake's  brigade.  John 
Jackman,  father  of  dur  late  citizens,  Justus  and  James 
Jackman,  enlisted  in  another  company  of  the  same 
brigade.  These  companies  were  stationed  at  Eastport. 
Mr.  Jackman,  afterwai*ds  known  as  Captain  Jackman, 
was  a  man  of  great  size  and  strength  and  abounding 
good  nature.  In  his  intercourse  with  others,  he  often 
carried  a  disputed  point  by  jokes  and  pleasantries.  On 
one  occasion  he  went  to  the  commissary  department  with 
a  complaint  of  the  bread  ration,  when  the  following 
colloquy  occurred  —  ''What's  the  matter  with  the 
bread.?"  the  officer  in  charge  asked.  "It  is  so  dry  and 
hard  the  men  are  in  danger  of  breaking  their  teeth," 
was  the  reply.  "The  men  must  have  poor  teeth,"  said 
the  officer,  with  an  exasperating  expression  of  incredulity. 
Nothing  daunted,  Mr.  Jackman  repeated  the  complaint 
in  intensified  form.  "It's  so  hard,"  he  said,  "I  can 
force  fire  from  it  with  the  bfwik  of  my  jack-knife. "  "I'd 
like  to  see  you  do  it,"  replied  the  officer;  whereupon  a 
messmate  of  Mr.  Jackman  stepped  forward  with  a  loaf 
of  the  discredited  hard  bread,  and  passed  it  to  him. 
Pulling  a  huge  jack-knife  from  his  pocket,  he  examined 
the  blade  very  carefully  as  well  as  the  loaf,  which  was  to 
be  an  important  factor  in  the  performance,  as  if  to  find 
whether  the  conditions  were  favorable  to  success. 

He  now  commenced  the  effort  to  coax  sparks  from  the 
loaf,  but  while  crumbs  rattled  over  the  floor,  there  were 
no  sparks  of  fire.  The  ludicrous  performance  drew  peals 
of    laughter  from    the   waiting   crowd.     Presently    the 


162  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

promised  sparks  began  to  light  up  the  scene.  The 
laughter  became  more  boisterous,  but  our  Garland 
soldier  was  no  longer  its  subject.  The  sparks  that 
amused  the  crowd,  came  from  the  impingement  of  the 
knife  upon  a  gun- flint  concealed  in  the  loaf.  This  was 
before  the  invention  of  the  percussion  cap.  The  quality 
of  the  bread  ration  was  improved  by  this  incident. 


Garland  in  1815 

Town  meetings  in  Garland  in  1815  were  of  frequent 
occurrence  but,  to  a  great  extent,  barren  of  results. 
The  division  of  the  town  into  school  districts,  the  location 
of  schoolhouses  and  roads,  were  subjects  of  perpetual 
discussion,  both  in  and  out  of  the  municipal  gatherings. 

The  annual  meeting  of  1815  was  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  on  the  13th  day  of 
March.  Ebenezer  Greenleaf  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
Moses  Gordon,  clerk.  The  selectmen  for  the  year  were 
Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  Benjamin  Gilpatrick  and  Amos 
Gordon.  The  same  persons  were  chosen  assessors.  The 
Rev.  John  Sawyer,  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  and  James 
Parker  were  elected  superintending  school  committee. 
Moses  Gordon  was  chosen  collector,  his  compensation 
being  fixed  at  five  and  three  fourths  per  cent.  The  town 
voted  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  support  of 
schools;  one  hundred  and  twenty -five  dollars  to  defray 
town  charges,  and  seven  hundred  dollars  to  build  and 
repair  roads,  and  to  allow  twelve  and  one  half  cents  per 
hour  for  labor. 

A  town  meeting  was  Keld  at  the  house  of  Isaac 
Wheeler,  Esq.,  on  November  4th,  1815,    "to  see  what 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  163 

measure  the  town  will  adopt  respecting  the  division  of 
the  county."  Previous  to  this  time,  Garland  had  been 
a  constituent  part  of  the  county  of  Hancock.  A 
general  movement  had  been  inaugurated  to  secure  the 
establishment  of  a  new  county. 

Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  Ebenezer  Greenleaf  and  John  S. 
Haskell  were  chosen  a  committee  to  petition  the  Legis- 
lature of  Massachusetts  for  the  proposed  division.  At 
this  meeting,  John  S.  Haskell,  John  Chandler,  Cutteon 
Flanders  and  William  Church  were  appointed  tithing 
men.  The  appointment  of  such  officials  was  of  regular 
occurrence  in  the  earlier  years  of  the  town's  history. 
Their  duty  was  to  preserve  good  order  during  divine  ser- 
vice. There  being  no  schoolhouses  in  town  at  this  date, 
and  the  persons  named  residing  in  different  sections, 
would  seem  to  indicate  that  religious  meetings  were  held 
at  private  houses  or  in  open  air  at  different  parts. 

The  sixth  and  last  town  meeting  of  1815  was  held  on 
the  25th  of  November,  at  the  residence  of  Isaac 
Wheeler,  Esq.  The  inhabitants  came  together  to  make 
one  more  effort  to  harmonize  differences  respecting  the 
location  and  building  of  schoolhouses,  but  without 
practical  result. 


Garland  in  1816 

Petition  for  a  New  State 

The  sentiment  in  the  Province  of  Maine  in  favor  of 
receding  from  the  Mother  State  had  been  gaining 
strength  from  the  beginning  of  the  War  of  1812,  and 
took  the  form  of  organized  action  in  1816.  In  his 
history  of  Maine,  Mr.  Williamson  informs  us  that  early 


164  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

in  the  year  of  1816,  forty-nine  towns  in  the  District  of 
Maine  petitioned  for  separation  in  their  corporate  capaci- 
ties, and  that  there  were  petitions  from  individuals  in 
about  as  many  more  towns  for  the  same  object. 

On  the  18th  of  January  the  legal  voters  of  Garland 
in  town  meeting  assembled,  passed  the  following  vote: 
"That  the  town  petition  the  Legislature  for  a  separation 
of  the  District  of  Maine  from  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  for  its  erection  into  an  independent  state." 
The  selectmen  and  town  clerk  were  instructed  to  sign  the 
petition  in  behalf  of  the  town.  It  may  fairly  be 
inferred  that  Garland  was  one  of  the  forty-nine  towns 
alluded  to  by  Mr.  Williamson  as  voting  for  separation. 

Influenced  by  these  petitions  from  nearly  one  half  of 
the  incorporated  towns  of  the  district,  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts  sought  a  fuller  expression  of  sentiment 
upon  the  question  of  separation.  In  furtherance  of  this 
purpose,  it  directed  that  meetings  be  held  in  all  the 
towns  and  plantations  in  the  district,  on  the  20th  of 
May,  and  that  the  voice  of  the  legal  voters  should  be 
taken  on  the  following  question:  "Shall  the  Legislature 
be  requested  to  give  its  consent  to  the  separation  of  the 
District  of  Maine  from  Massachusetts,  and  the  erection 
of  said  district  into  a  separate  state.?"  On  this  question 
the  legal  voters  of  Garland  voted  as  follows:  For 
separation,  twenty-six;  against  separation,  five.  While 
the  general  result  in  the  district  showed  that  a  decisive 
majority  of  those  who  voted  favored  separation,  only  a 
minority  of  voters  gave  in  their  vote.  This  result  dis- 
appointed the  Separationists.  Nevertheless,  a  law  was 
passed  by  the  Legislature,  prescribing  the  conditions  of 
separation,  and  directing  that  the  legal  voters  of  the 
towns  and  plantations  should  assemble  on  the  first  Mon- 
day in  September  and  give  their  yeas  and  nays  upon  the 
following  question:      "Is  it  expedient  that  the  District 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  165 

of  Maine  be  separated  from  Massachusetts  and  become 
an  independents  tate?"  The  result  in  Garland  was:  For 
separation,  twenty-six;  against  separation,  eight. 

The  general  result  showed  a  majority  in  favor  of 
separation,  but  this  majority  was  much  smaller  than 
required  by  the  law  which  governed  the  proceedings. 
Thus  the  measure  was,  for  a  time,  defeated. 


Change  of    Place 

Until  the  year  1816,  the  meetings  for  town  business 
had  been  held  at  private  houses,  generally  at  the  house 
of  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.  Religious  meetings  had  been 
held  at  private  houses,  or  in  the  awe-inspiring  shadows 
of  the  grand  old  forest. 

In  the  year  1816,  the  town  meeting  was  held  in  the 
schoolhouse,  afterwards  known  as  the  Center  schoolhouse 
in  town.  It  emerged  from  clouds  of  opposition,  dis- 
putation and  declamation.  It  was  the  first  schoolhouse 
in  town,  and  having  been  built  for  certain  special  pur- 
poses, other  than  schools,  it  was  larger  than  any  house 
of  the  kind  in  town  until  the  village  schoolhouse  was 
built  thirty-seven  years  later. 

It  was  located  in  a  dense  forest,  at  the  nominal  center 
of  the  town.  To  the  early  inhabitants,  the  old  Center 
schoolhouse  never  ceased  to  be  an  object  of  interest. 

There  they  often  met  to  discuss  and  perfect  measures 
for  the  benefit  of  themselves  and  children.  There  they 
went  to  deposit  the  ballot  which,  though  "a  weapon 
that  comes  down  as  still  as  snowflakes  fall  upon  the 
sod,"  was  yet  a  factor  in  determining  whether  they 
should  be  blessed  with   the  kindly  influences  of  intelli- 


166  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

gent  and  conscientious  statesmanship,  or  cursed  with 
malignant  and  incompetent  partisanship.  There  they 
sent  their  children  to  be  instructed  in  the  rudiments 
of  knowledge  that  they  might  be  prepared  to  act  well 
their  parts  in  the  drama  of  life.  There  they  met  for 
religious  conference  and  worship,  ere  yet  they  were 
favored  by  the  regular  and  more  public  ministrations  of 
the  pulpit.  There  the  first  settled  minister.  Rev.  Isaac 
Wilkins,  having  been  called  by  vote  of  the  town, 
labored  faithfully  for  a  period  of  five  years  to  promote 
the  moral  and  spiritual  welfare  of  the  people. 


Annual  Town  Meeting  of  1816 

The  annual  meeting  for  municipal  business  in  1816, 
was  held  March  14,  in  Garland's  first  public  building, 
the  Center  schoolhouse,  which  was  still  in  an  unfinished 
condition.  The  meeting  was  organized  by  the  choice  of 
Ebenezer  Greenleaf  for  moderator,  and  Moses  Gordon, 
town  clerk.  Josiah  Bartlett,  Benjamin  Gilpatrick  and 
Ebenezer  Greenleaf  were  chosen  selectmen  and  assessors. 
Thomas  Gilpatrick  was  chosen  treasurer  and  Philip 
Greeley,  collector.  His  compensation  was  fixed  at  three 
and  one  half  per  cent. 

Isaac  Wheeler,  Abner  Sanborn  and  Moses  Buzzell 
were  chosen  superintending  school  committee.  It  was 
voted  to  raise  five  hundred  dollars  to  build  and  repair 
highways,  three  hundred  dollars  to  support  schools,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  defray  town  charges  and  fif- 
teen dollars  to  buy  powder  and  balls.  It  was  voted  that 
all  taxes,  except  the  highway  tax,  should  be  paid  in 
grain,  wheat  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents,  corn  at  one 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  167 

dollar  and  twenty-five  cents,  and  rye  at  one  dollar  and 
ten  cents  per  bushel. 

The  second  meeting  of  1816  was  held  on  the  12th 
of  April  for  the  transaction  of  some  unimportant  town 
business.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  citizens 
deposited  their  votes  for  governor,  lieutenant  governor, 
senators  and  councilors.  The  vote  for  governor  was: 
For  Hon.  Samuel  Dexter,  twenty-four;  for  Hon.  John 
Brooks,  fifteen. 

In  this  election  Mr.  Brooks  was  elected  as  the  succes- 
sor of  Governor  Strong.  Another  town  meeting  was 
held  on  April  20th  to  transact  business  relative  to  the 
building  of  schoolhouses  and  the  making  of  roads. 


A  New  County 

To  the  citizens  of  Garland  and  of  this  section  of  the 
Province  of  Maine,  the  year  1816  was  the  beginning  of 
a  new  epoch.  Until  1816,  Garland  had  been  a  part  of 
Hancock  County,  a  section  of  country  extending  from 
the  Penobscot  Bay  on  the  south,  to  the  utmost  northern 
limits  of  the  State.  It  embraced  territory  nearly  as 
large  as  one  third  of  the  present  State  of  Maine,  and 
larger  than  the  present  State  of  Massachusetts. 

Castine  was  its  shire  town,  although  Bangor  had  been 
constituted  a  half  shire  town  years  earlier,  and  a  registry 
of  deeds  had  been  established  there,  still  all  court  business 
was  transacted  at  Castine,  which  was  so  remote  from  the 
extreme  northern  settlements  of  the  county  that  the 
inhabitants  of  these  distant  settlements  were  subjected 
to  serious  inconvenience  when  required  to  attend  court. 

A  movement    had    been  made  a  year  earlier  for  the 


168  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

establishment  of  a  new  county,  many  petitions  having 
been  sent  to  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  in  further- 
ance of  the  object.  Garland  was  one  of  the  towns  that 
petitioned.  In  response  to  these  petitions,  the  Legis- 
lature of  Massachusetts  passed  an  act  on  February  15th, 
1816,  to  incorporate  the  county  of  Penobscot,  which 
provided  that  it  should  take  effect  on  the  first  day  of 
April,  1816.  Bangor  was  made  the  shire  town  of  the 
new  county. 

The  existence  of  a  new  county  created  the  necessity 
for  new  offices  and  officers  to  fill  them.  With  the 
exception  of  registrar  of  deeds,  these  officers  were  to  be 
appointed  by  the  governor.  He  was  to  be  elected  by 
the  towns  of  the  new  county.  The  legal  voters  of 
Garland  assembled  on  the  27th  of  May  and  voted  as 
follows : 

For  John  Wilkins,  eight  votes;  for  Charles  Rice, 
one  vote. 

Mr.  Wilkins  was  elected  registrar  by  an  almost  unani- 
mous vote. 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  at  the  Center 
schoolhouse  on  November  4,  1816,  to  vote  for  represent- 
ative to  Congress. 

Hon.  Martin  Hinsley  received  fourteen  votes.  Hon. 
John  Wilson  received  nine  votes. 


The   Year  Without   a   Summer 

The  year  1816  has  been  aptly  characterized  as  the 
year  without  a  summer.  Several  of  the  preceding  sum- 
mers were  so  cold  as  to  suggest  a  possible  future  famine. 
This  tendency  to  frigidity  reached  its  greatest  intensity 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  169 

in  the  summer  of  1816.  The  phenomenal  coldness  of 
that  year  was  not  confined  to  a  small  area.  It  prevailed 
through  the  United  States  £uid  Canada  and  extended  to 
Europe.  That  there  were  reasons  for  alarm,  especially 
in  the  new  settlements  of  eastern  Maine,  already 
impoverished  by  untoward  events  extending  through 
several  years,  will  be  understood  by  a  perusal  of  the  fol- 
lowing graphic  account  from  a  reliable  source : 

"The  year  1816  was  known  throughout  the  United 
States  and  Europe  as  the  coldest  ever  experienced  by  any 
person  then  living.  Very  few  persons  now  living  can 
recollect  it.  The  following  is  a  brief  summary  of  the 
weather  during  each  month  of  that  year:  January  was 
so  mild  as  to  render  fires  almost  unnecessary  in  parlors. 
February,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  days,  was  like  its 
predecessor.  March  was  cold  and  boisterous  during  the 
early  part  of  the  month.  The  latter  part  was  mild. 
April  began  warm  but  grew  colder  as  the  month 
advanced.  May  was  more  remarkable  for  frowns  than 
smiles.  Buds  and  fruits  were  frozen.  Ice  formed  half 
an  inch  thick.  Com  was  killed  and  again  planted  and 
replanted  so  long  as  there  was  the  slightest  prospect  of 
success.  June  was  the  coldest  ever  known  in  this  lati- 
tude. Frost  and  ice  were  common.  Almost  every  green 
thing,  including  fruit,  was  destroyed.  Snow  fell  to  the 
depth  of  seven  inches  in  Vermont  and  Maine,  three  in 
the  interior  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts.  There 
were  a  few  warm  days  in  June.  It  was  called  a  dry 
season.  The  wind,  fierce  and  cold,  blew  steadily  from 
the  north.  Mothers  knit  extra  socks  and  mittens  for 
their  children  in  the  spring.  Wood-piles  were  renewed. 
Planting  and  shivering  went  on  together.  Farmers 
worked  out  their  taxes  on  the  roads  in  overcoats  and 
mittens.  In  Vermont,  a  farmer  had  driven  his  sheep  to 
pasture  some  miles  away  at  the  usual  time.      On  the  7th 


170  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

of  June  there  was  a  heavy  fall  of  snow.  The  cold 
being  severe,  the  owner  went  to  look  after  them.  As 
he  left  the  house  he  said  sportively  to  his  wife,  'It 
being  June,  if  I  do  not  return  in  a  reasonable  time  send 
the  neighbors  after  me.'  Night  came,  the  storm  had 
increased,  and  he  was  still  absent. 

''The  next  morning  the  neighbors  were  alarmed  and 
started  in  search  of  the  missing  man.  On  the  morning 
of  the  third  day,  he  was  found  with  his  feet  badly  frozen 
and  unable  to  walk. 

"July  was  accompanied  by  frost  and  ice.  On  the  5th, 
ice  of  the  thickness  of  common  window-glass  was  found 
throughout  New^  England,  New  York  and  some  parts  of 
Pennsylvania.  Indian  corn  was  nearly  all  destroyed 
except  on  elevated  lands.  August  was  more  cheerless 
than  the  earlier  summer  months.  Nearly  all  the  corn 
that  had  escaped  thus  far  was  so  badly  frozen  that  it  was 
cut  for  fodder.  September  furnished  about  two  weeks 
of  the  mildest  weather  of  the  season. 

"October  produced  more  than  its  share  of  cold  weather. 
November  was  cold  and  brought  snow  and  sleighing.  In 
marked  contrast  with  the  preceding  months  of  1816, 
December  was  mild  and  comfortable.  Such  is  the  sum- 
mary of  the  general  weather  conditions  of  the  phenome- 
nal year  of  1816." 

To  us,  who  are  at  a  remove  of  eighty  years  from  that 
phenomenal  year,  the  foregoing  description  may  seem  to 
have  been  inspired  by  a  spirit  of  unrestrained  exagger- 
ation, but  it  is  confirmed  by  the  traditions  of  the  experi- 
ence of  the  early  inhabitants  of  central  Maine. 

In  his  Annals  of  Bangor,  Judge  John  E.  Godfrey 
says :  '  'The  season  was  remarkable  for  the  low  state  of 
the  thermometer.  In  June  the  cold  was  severe.  It 
snowed  the  seventh  and  eighth.  Water  froze  for  several 
nights,  and  on  the  10th,  the  ice  over  puddles  would  bear 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  171 

a  man.  Great  numbers  of  birds  were  so  benumbed  that 
they  could  be  readily  taken  in  the  hand,  and  many 
perished. ' ' 

The  Rev.  Amasa  Loring,  in  his  history  of  Piscataquis 
County,  says  of  the  year  1816:  ''On  the  29th  and  30th 
days  of  May,  snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  five  inches. 
From  the  sixth  to  the  tenth  of  June  there  were  frequent 
snow  squalls,  and  every  morning  the  surface  of  the 
ground  was  found  frozen.  Every  month  during  the  sum- 
mer frost  was  visible.  On  the  sixth  of  October,  three 
inches  of  snow  fell.  No  corn  was  raised  this  year  in  any 
part  of  northern  New  England.  Early  rye  and  wheat 
ripened,  but  were  much  pinched,  and  potatoes  came  in 
light  and  watery." 


Garland  in  the  Cold  Year 

The  almost  total  failure  of  crops  in  the  fateful  year  of 
1816  put  the  faith  of  the  inhabitants  of  Garland  in 
their  ability  to  maintain  their  foothold  upon  the  lands 
where  they  had  toiled  many  a  weary  ^^ear  to  make  homes 
for  themselves  and  their  growing  families,  to  a  severe 
test. 

Previous  to  the  year  1816  they  had  been  sorely  buf- 
feted by  adverse  circumstances,  and  now,  when  they  had 
reached  the  threshold  of  what  seemed  a  brighter  future, 
this  disastrous  year  came  to  them  with  crushing  force. 
Many  of  them  were  carrying  a  burden  of  debt  incurred 
in  the  purchase  of  their  lands,  which  they  were  bravely 
striving  to  pay. 

A  typical  case  was  that  of  Moses  Gordon.  In  the 
year  1815  he  had  felled  ten  acres  of  trees,  partly  on  the 


172  HISTOEY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

land  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son  Albert,  and 
partly  upon  the  Murdock  place,  with  the  purpose  and 
expectation  of  reducing  his  debt. 

The  conditions  of  exposure  to  the  sun  and  soil  favored 
an  abundant  crop.  The  early  spring  months  had  passed, 
and  the  calendar  indicated  the  advent  of  the  corn-plant- 
ing season,  but  there  was  nothing  in  the  atmospheric 
conditions  to  suggest  the  presence  of  that  usually  joyous 
season ;  nothing  to  inspire  courage,  confidence  or  hope. 
Planting  was  postponed  from  time  to  time  for  the  hoped 
for  favorable  change  which  failed  to  come.  At  length 
in  sheer  desperation,  with  the  assistance  of  several 
neighbors,  Mr.  Gordon  commenced  the  work  of  planting. 
It  was  now  well  along  in  June,  the  month  in  which — 
'  'If  ever  come  perfect  days. ' '  But  instead  of  sunshine 
and  warmth,  there  were  snow-squalls  and  frosts  almost 
daily.  Men  were  obliged  to  resume  their  winter  cloth- 
ing. The  summer  passed,  and  harvest  time  came,  but  it 
brought  disappointment  instead  of  corn. 

The  value  of  the  entire  crop  of  corn  harvested  was 
not  equal  to  that  of  the  seed  planted.  The  same  dis- 
astrous results  came  to  nearly  all  the  farmers  who 
attempted  to  raise  corn.  There  is  a  tradition,  however, 
that  William  Godwin  raised  a  crop  of  corn  in  1816,  on 
an  elevated  farm,  a  little  east  of  the  present  residence  of 
Charles  Greeley,  formerly  known  as  the  Calef  or  Cram 
farm.  Perpetual  breezes  over  the  hilltop  kept  the  grow- 
ing corn  almost  constantly  in  motion,  thus  resisting  the 
action  of  the  frost,  and  allowing  the  crop  to  grow  and 
ripen. 

While  the  corn  crop  was  virtually  a  failure  in  Gar- 
land, crops  of  wheat,  rye  and  potatoes,  were  partially 
successful,  but  wheat  and  rye  were  much  pinched,  and 
potatoes  were  small  and  watery.  The  inhabitants  of 
this  region  were  greatly  perplexed  with  the  question  of  a 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  17^ 

food  supply  until  the  crops  of  1817  should  ripen,  if, 
indeed,  the  unborn  year  should  prove  more  frjiitful  than 
the  present. 

Forest,  lake  and  stream  could  be  depended  on  for  the 
usual  supply  of  game  and  fish,  but  beyond  these  the 
prospect  was  not  inspiring.  But  expedients  were  at 
hand.  Mashed  potatoes  and  pumpkins  were  mixed  with 
flour,  corn  and  rye  meal  to  increase  the  quantity  of 
bread  supply.  Potatoes  and  pumpkins  in  milk  was  an 
esteemed  dish.  Clover  heads  stewed  in  butter  often  took 
the  place  of  more  nutritious  food.  Fields  and  thickets 
were  scanned  for  berries. 


Incidents     From    the    Diary    of    Stephen   A. 

Berry 

In  1816,  Stephen  A.  Berry,  then  a  boy  of  ten  years, 
was  living  with  his  parents  in  New  Durham,  N.  H.  The 
hardships  of  the  family  are  typical  of  those  that  were 
common  throughout  New  England.  Mr.  Berry  says  that 
the  years  1815-16-17,  constituted  a  period  of  privation 
And  hardship  without  a  parallel  within  the  memories  of 
the  oldest  inhabitants  then  living. 

The  year  1816  was  the  most  memorable  of  these. 
On  the  7th  of  June  snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  seven 
inches.  No  corn  ripened  sufficiently  for  seed,  and  as  an 
article  of  food,  it  was  verv  near  an  entire  failure. 
Wheat  was  but  little  used  for  food.  Machinery  for 
grinding  it  was  very  imperfect,  and  the  methods  of  pre- 
paring it  for  the  table  were  very  crude.  Rye  and  corn 
meal  were  much  more  highly  esteemed. 

The  crop  of  rye  in  1816,   while  light,   was   not   an 


174  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

entire  failure.  Mr.  Berry  relates  an  incident  of  his  own 
experience.  In  the  vicinity  of  his  home,  there  lived  a 
Mr.  Ela,  a  wealthy  farmer,  who  had  raised  a  large  field 
of  rye.  After  the  rye  had  been  harvested  with  great 
care,  Mr.  Berry,  then  ten  years  old,  obtained  permission 
to  glean  the  scattered  heads,  and  with  the  assistance  of  a 
sister,  older  than  himself,  entered  upon  the  work  with 
zeal  and  courage. 

At  the  end  of  several  days'  diligent  labor,  the  young 
gleaners  bore  the  gathered  heads  of  rye  in  triumph  to 
their  home.  Aided  by  their  good  mother,  they  soon 
relieved  the  heads  of  their  treasures.  Breezes  from  the 
hilltops  separated  the  chaff  from  the  grain.  The 
reward  of  their  youthful  toil  was  eight  quarts  of  rye 
which  the  boy  Stephen  bore  to  the  mill  a  mile  from 
home,  and  soon  returned  with  the  meal  which  quickly 
took  the  form  of  bread,  and  the  family  sat  down  to  a 
"square  meal"  for  the  first  time  in  several  days. 

Mr.  Berry  says  he  does  not  remember  whether  there 
was  other  food  before  the  family  on  that  occasion,  but 
he  does  remember  that  there  was  bread  and  a  plenty  of 
it,  and  that  no  achievement  of  his  subsequent  life  gave 
him  more  satisfaction  than  this. 

Later  in  the  season  the  Berry  family  arose  early  one 
morning  to  find  there  was  not  a  mouthful  of  food  in  the 
larder.  The  father  quickly  summoned  his  two  sons: 
Ira,  who  was  afterwards  for  many  years  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Portland,  and  Stephen.  The  three  went 
to  the  river  at  a  short  distance  from  the  house,  where 
they  unexpectedly  found  an  abundance  of  fish  ready  to 
take  the  bait  upon  their  hooks. 

After  fishing  for  a  brief  time,  a  sudden  shower  of  rain 
came  upon  them,  when  the  fish  instantly  disappeared  in 
the  deep  water,  whereupon  Stephen  quaintly  remarked 
that   this  must  have  been  done  to  avoid  getting    wet. 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  175 

The  breakfast  that  followed  was  characterized  by  abun- 
dance rather  than  variety. 


Garland  in  1817 

To  the  inhabitants  of  Garland,  the  year  1817  opened 
with  gloomy  forebodings.  The  struggle  for  bread  that 
had  characterized  the  year  just  closed,  must  of  necessity 
be  intensified  until  the  harvest  of  1817  would,  perchance, 
bring  relief. 

Each  year,  following  the  year  1813  down  to  that  of 
1816,  had  been  more  unfruitful  than  the  preceding  year. 
This  engendered  the  apprehension  that  the  year  to 
follow  might  be  more  disastrous  to  growing  crops  than 
the  year  that  had  just  closed.  In  looking  forward,  it  is 
not  strange  that  the  disheartened  people  indulged  in 
serious  questionings  of  the  future.  Was  the  sun  losing 
its  warmth?  Would  the  seasons  continue  to  grow 
colder?  Had  Providence  designed  this  cold  region  for 
the  habitat  of  wild  animals  instead  of  the  home  of 
civilization?  Would  the  harvest  of  the  new  year  bring 
relief?  Will  the  best  twelve  or  fifteen  years  of  our  brief 
lives,  which  have  been  devoted  to  the  work  of  making 
homes  in  this  eastern  wilderness,  years  of  struggle, 
hardship,  privation,  and  severe  toil,  count  for  naught  in 
the  battle  of  life?  And  after  all,  shall  we  be  compelled 
to  abandon  all  our  earthly  possessions  here  and  fly  from 
the  ills  we  now  endure  to  those  we  know  not  of? 

The  early  months  of  1817  were  not  reassuring. 
January  and  February  were  intensely  cold.  The  spring 
months  were  very  chilly.  They  failed  to  dispel  the 
clouds  that  had  so  long  hung  dark  and  heavy  over  the 
people. 


176  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

A  Cheering  Change 

The  month  of  July  brought  a  cheering  change  to  the 
desponding  dwellers  of  this  region.  The  sun  resumed 
its  wonted  power  over  vegetation.  Alternations  of  sun- 
shine and  rain  were  followed  by  a  remarkable  change  of 
the  growing  crops.  Autumn  made  its  advent  laden 
with  an  abundant  crop  of  grain.  The  protracted  period 
of  despondency  now  gave  place  to  courage  and  hope. 

An  incident  of  the  spring,  summer,  and  autumn  of 
1817  was  the  presence  of  an  innumerable  multitude  of 
wild  pigeons.  They  flew  through  the  air  in  clouds, 
often  obscuring  the  light  of  the  sun.  They  infested 
fields  of  grain  doing  much  damage.  Although  esteemed 
as  an  article  of  food,  they  were  caught  in  such  numbers 
that  bushels  of  them  were  thrown  to  the  hogs.  Forty 
to  fifty  dozen  was  not  an  uncommon  catch  in  a  single 
day  by  a  single  individual. 


Friends  in  Need 

The  early  inhabitants  of  Garland  held  many  of  the 
business  men  of  Bangor  in  grateful  remembrance  to  the 
latest  hours  of  their  lives  for  the  kindly  forbearance  and 
encouragement  received  at  their  hands  in  the  time  of 
their  direful  extremity. 

Those  of  our  people  whose  indebtedness  was  to  be 
paid  in  farm  produce,  were  generously  granted  such 
extension  of  time  as  their  necessities  required.  If,  per- 
chance, any  of  them  had  a  surplus  of  grain  to  turn  over 
to  their  creditors,  they  were  allowed  to  retain  it  for  their 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  177 

own,    or   their   neighbor's    use,    until    more    propitious 
seasons  should  afford  more  abundant  means  of  payment. 

Seed  was  generously  offered  to  those  who  would 
promise  to  put  it  into  the  ground,  to  be  paid  for  at  the 
convenience  of  those  accepting  the  offer.  Conspicuous 
among  these  helpful  friends  was  William  Emerson,  the 
following  tribute  to  whose  personal  qualities  was  cut 
from  a  Bangor  paper: 

*'Mr.  Emerson  gained  a  fine  reputation  in  those  days 
(1816  and  1817)  by  his  tender  and  benevolent  treatment 
of  the  poor  and,  in  fact,  of  all  who  needed  his  assistance. 
He  never  took  advantage  of  sudden  rises  in  prices  of 
articles  of  food  or  clothing.  He  took  pains  to  secure  a 
plenty  of  seed  for  the  farmers,  at  prices,  and  on  terms 
of  credit  that  suited  their  circumstances,  and  in  many 
ways  tried  to  lessen  the  burdens  of  his  less  fortunate  or 
less  thoughtful  neighbors. ' ' 

This  sketch  of  the  considerate  and  unselfish  acts  of 
Mr.  Emerson  harmonizes  with  traditions  from  the  early 
inhabitants  of  Garland,  and  it  is  fitting  that  a  record  of 
such  acts  should  find  a  place  in  the  annals  of  the  town 
of  Garland. 


The  Annual  Meeting  of  1817 

The  annual  town  meeting  of  1817  was  held  March  19 
at  the  Center  schoolhouse.  Josiah  Bartlett  was  chosen 
moderator,  and  Isaac  Wheeler,  town  clerk.  Isaac 
Wheeler,  Philip  Greeley  and  Benjamin  Gilpatrick  were 
chosen  selectmen  and  assessors.  The  selectmen  were 
chosen  superintending  school  committee.  Thomas 
Gilpatrick,     Jr.,     was    chosen    treasurer,     and     Philip 


178  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Greeley,  collector  of  taxes,  whose  compensation  was 
fixed  at  three  and  three  fourths  per  cent. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars  for  the  support  of  schools ;  eight  hundred  dollars 
to  make  and  repair  highways,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  to  defray  town  charges.  At  the  same  meeting, 
the  town  voted  to  use  the  money  that  had  been  voted 
for  schools  to  defray  town  charges.  This  vote  left  the 
schools  without  appropriation.  At  a  subsequent  meet- 
ing, it  was  voted  that  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  of 
the  sum  voted  for  town  charges,  at  the  previous  meeting, 
should  be  expended  for  schools.  The  people  of  the  town 
were  still  working  at  cross  purposes  respecting  school 
districts  and  schools. 

A  second  town  meeting  was  held  on  April  7th  at  the 
Center  schoolhouse.  The  main  object  of  this  meeting 
was  the  consideration  of  matters  pertaining  to  roads. 
It  was  voted  to  allow  twelve  and  one  half  cents  per  hour 
for  the  labor  of  men  and  oxen,  and  for  the  use  of  plows, 
and  eight  cents  for  carts  while  in  use. 


The  First  County  Road 

The  year  1817  made  a  new  epoch  in  the  history  of 
roads.  Heretofore  roads  had  been  located  and  built  by 
the  town  almost  exclusively  with  reference  to  the  require- 
ments and  convenience  of  its  own  citizens.  The  time 
had  now  come  when  its  necessities  and  convenience  must, 
to  a  certain  extent,  be  considered  with  reference  to  its 
relation  to  other  towns.  A  county  road  extending 
from  Bangor  to  the  present  county  of  Piscataquis, 
through  the  towns  of  Glenburn,  Kenduskeag,  Corinth, 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  179 

Garland  and  Sangerville,  towards  Moosehead  Lake,  had 
been  projected.  This  road  is  now  known  as  "the  old 
County  road'*  and  the  section  of  it  within  the  limits 
of  Garland  was  about  seven  miles  in  length. 

At  its  second  town  meeting  of  1817,  held  April  7th, 
the  town  voted  to  expend  three  hundred  dollars  of  the 
eight  hundred  dollars  that  had  been  voted  at  the  annual 
meeting  upon  the  section  of  the  county  road  between 
Church's  mills  and  the  south  line  of  the  town.  It  also 
voted  to  allow  for  the  travel  of  men  and  oxen  to  and 
from  their  work,  on  the  above  named  section,  six  cents 
per  mile.  This  allowance  was  limited  to  men  living 
north  of  Church's  mills,  while  the  allowance  to  laborers 
south  of  the  mills  was  four  cents  per  mile. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  7th  of  October,  1817, 
it  was  voted  that  every  citizen  of  Garland  who  pays  a 
poll  tax  should  work  one  day  on  the  county  road  north 
of  the  late  residence  of  Enoch  Jackman.  The  site  of 
this  residence  was  near  the  place  where  the  original 
county  road  intersected  the  present  county  road  to 
Sangerville,  a  little  north  of  the  present  residence  of 
Henry  Merrill. 

A  year  later  the  town  voted  to  raise  twelve  hundred 
dollars  to  build  and  repair  highways,  and  that  one  half 
this  sum  should  be  expended  on  the  county  road.  The 
building  of  the  first  county  road  was  a  severe  burden 
upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  town. 


Ballot  for  Governor  in  1817 

On  April  7th,  the  town  balloted  for  governor  with 
result  as  follows:  Hon.  John  Brooks  received  fourteen 
votes ;  Hon.  Henry  Dearborn  received  sixteen  votes. 


180  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Garland  in  1818 

The  annual  meeting  of  1818  was  held  March  14th. 
The  officers  chosen  were  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  town 
clerk;  Benjamin  Gilpatrick,  John  Trefethen  and  Abner 
Sanborn,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Ezekiel  Straw,  treas- 
urer; Philip  Greeley,  collector  of  taxes,  whose  compen- 
sation was  fixed  at  two  and  three  fourths  per  cent. 
Ezekiel  Straw,  Edward  Fifield  and  John  Trefethen  were 
chosen  superintending  school  committee. 

On  the  6th  day  of  April,  a  town  meeting  was  held 
for  the  transaction  of  important  business  which  had  been 
omitted  at  the  annual  town  meeting.  No  money  had 
been  voted  at  this  meeting  for  any  purpose.  It  may 
safely  be  assumed  that  the  omission  was  due  to  a  bitter 
division  of  sentiment  upon  questions  pertaining  to 
schools  and  roads.  At  the  meeting  of  April  6th,  the 
town  voted  to  raise  twelve  hundred  dollars  to  make  and 
repair  highways,  one  half  of  this  sum  to  be  expended 
on  the  county  road,  and  the  balance  on  other  roads  of 
the  town. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  for  the 
support  of  schools,  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  support 
of  the  poor,  twenty-three  dollars  to  purchase  powder 
(presumably  to  make  a  noise  on  muster  day)  and  seventy^ 
five  dollars  to  defray  town  charges.  There  is  no  record 
of  the  raising  of  money  for  the  support  of  the  poor 
until  the  year  1818. 

Until  this  year  (1818)  it  had  been  the  policy  of  the 
town  to  have  all  taxes,  except  the  road  tax,  paid  in 
grain  at  prices  fixed  each  year  by  vote.  This  year  it  was 
voted  that  taxes,  except  the  road  tax,  should  be  paid 
one  half  in  money  and  one  half  in  grain,  wheat  at  one 
doUar  and  fifty  cents,  rye  at  one  dollar  per  bushel,  pro- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  181 

vided  that  these  grains  should  be  delivered  to  the  treas- 
urer by  the  first  day  of  February,  1819,  otherwise  the 
whole  tax,  except  the  road  tax,  must  be  paid  in  money. 


The  Town's  Treasury  Boxes 

When  in  1850,  our  late  citizen,  Ezekiel  Straw,  who 
had  been  treasurer  of  the  town  in  1818,  transferred  his 
farm  to  George  A.  Brann,  the  latter  found  grain  bins  in 
an  out-building  which  in  size  were  greatly  dispropor- 
tionate to  the  requirements  of  the  farm.  Asking  an 
explanation  of  the  former  owner,  he  was  informed  that 
they  had  been  provided  for  storing  the  town's  grain 
received  in  payment  of  taxes.  The  acceptance  of  grain 
by  the  town  in  payment  of  taxes  will  explain  the  large 
percentage  paid  from  year  to  year  for  the  collection  of 
taxes. 


Vote   for   Governor   in    1818 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  balloted  for  governor  on 
April  6,  with  result  as  follows:  For  Hon.  Benjamin 
Crowningshield,  Anti  Federalist,  nineteen  votes;  for 
Hon.  John  Brooks,  Federalist,  twelve  votes. 

A  town  meeting,  held  November  2,  1818,  only  em- 
phasized the  bitter  disagreements  upon  the  question  of 
schoolhouses. 


182  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


The  Ohio  Fever 

The  impoverished  condition  of  many  of  the  citizens  of 
the  Province  of  Maine,  superinduced  by  the  adverse 
effects  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  intensified  by  the  failure 
of  crops  in  1816,  was  followed  by  an  emigration  from 
the  State  to  the  West,  estimated  at  from  ten  to  fifteen 
thousand  people.  This  demoralized  sentiment  was  called 
the  "Ohio  fever."  While  some  of  the  towns  of  the 
Province  suffered  severely  by  the  loss  of  citizens  from 
this  cause,  the  loss  to  Garland  was  slight. 


A  Favorable  Season 

In  contrast  with  several  seasons  preceding  that  of 
1817,  the  year  1818  was  characterized  by  a  summer 
remarkably  favorable  for  the  growth  of  vegetation. 
The  crops  of  grain  were  abundant.  The  "Ohio  fever" 
had  spent  its  force,  and  the  tide  of  emigration  had  begun 
to  set  towards  Maine. 


A  Revival  of  the  Military  Spirit 

The  autumn  of  1818  witnessed  a  military  gathering 
at  Bangor  which  for  enthusiastic  interest  has  never,  in 
time  of  peace,  had  a  parallel  in  Penobscot  County.  The 
mortification  engendered  by  the  feeble  opposition  to  the 
passage  of  the  British  ships  and  troops  past  Hampden  to 
Bangor  towards  the  close  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  the 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  188 

tame  surrender  of  those  places  had  rankled  in  the  bosoms 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Penobscot  valley. 

Young,  ambitious,  and  rising  military  officers  of  the 
time,  who  had  not  participated  in  the  Hampden  affair, 
believed  that  special  efforts  to  improve  the  morals  of  the 
militia  were  imperatively  demanded.  Arrangements  for 
a  muster  of  the  troops  in  large  numbers  at  Bangor 
followed. 

The  ardor  of  the  younger  officers,  conspicuous  among 
whom  was  Colonel  Isaac  Hodsdon  of  Corinth,  in  evoking 
the  necessary  enthusiasm  from  the  people,  was  commen- 
surate with  the  importance  of  the  end  in  view. 

The  date  fixed  for  the  proposed  military  assemblage 
was  September  21st.  At  length  the  impatiently  awaited 
day  dawned.  At  an  early  hour  the  third,  fourth,  and 
fifth  regiments  of  the  first  brigade,  embracing  thirty 
companies,  took  the  places  assigned  them  on  the  ample 
field  selected  for  the  review.  In  the  absence  of  the 
Brigadier  General,  the  command  devolved  on  Colonel 
Hodsdon.  The  large  cavalcade  of  officers,  dressed  in  gay 
uniforms,  on  spirited  horses,  the  stirring  music,  waving 
flags,  rattle  of  musketry,  roar  of  cannon,  and  the  evolu- 
tions of  the  soldiery,  drew  forth  the  wildest  enthusiasm 
from  the  crowds  of  people  in  attendance. 

The  interest  of  the  occasion  was  greatly  enhanced  by 
the  presence  of  Governor  Brooks,  who  reviewed  the 
troops  and  expressed  his  warm  approval  of  the  success 
of  this  notable  demonstration.  The  Garland  company 
of  militia  was  present  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Philip  Greeley. 


184  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


The  First   Post-Office 

Previous  to  the  year  1818,  through  a  period  of  six- 
teen years,  the  nearest  post-office  had  been  at  Bangor 
which  was  twenty-five  miles  away.  During  that  period 
mail  matter  for  the  inhabitants  of  Garland  was  sent 
from  the  Bangor  office  by  any  reliable  person  of  the 
town,  who  happened  to  be  in  Bangor,  and  left  with  some 
resident  of  Garland,  who  esteemed  it  a  pleasure  to  distrib- 
ute it  to  the  scattered  homes  as  opportunity  occurred. 

A  mail  route  extending  from  Bangor,  through  Gar- 
land, to  Skowhegan  having  been  established,  a  post- 
office  was  located  at  the  house  of  William  Godwin,  who 
resided  on  the  road  to  Dexter,  opposite  the  site  of 
Maple  Grove  Cemetery,  in  the  year  1818,  and  Mr. 
Godwin  was  appointed  postmaster.  A  Mr.  Hayden  of 
Skowhegan  was  the  first  mail-carrier  over  this  route. 
His  stopping  place  at  the  end  of  the  first  day's  travel 
from  Bangor  was  at  Isaac  Hopland's,  where  Mark  C. 
Jennings  now  resides. 

The  mail  was  carried  on  horseback  for  the  first  few 
years.  This  service  involved  hardship  and,  not  infre- 
quently, serious  danger.  During  the  spring  and 
autumnal  freshets,  the  corduroy  bridges  over  low  and 
swampy  lands  were  often  transformed  into  floating 
bridges  of  a  dangerous  character. 

Bridges  over  small  streams  would  sometimes  float  away 
in  the  interim  between  trips.  Mr.  Hayden 's  contract 
expired  in  1822.  He  was  followed,  as  contractor,  by 
Colin  Campbell  of  Corinth,  and  Calvin  Osgood,  after- 
wards a  citizen  of  Garland,  to  carry  the  mail. 

Mr.  Eddy,  who  commenced  service  as  mail-carrier  in 
1822,  communicates  the  following  information  respect- 
ing the  circuit  he  traveled  to  get  the  mail  to  the  offices 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  185 

upon  his  route.  Starting  from  Bangor,  he  passed 
through  the  present  towns  of  Glenburn,  Kenduskeag, 
West  Corinth,  Exeter,  Garland,  Dexter,  Ripley,  Har- 
mony, Athens  and  Cornville,  to  the  objective  point, 
Skowhegan. 

On  his  return,  he  passed  through  the  towns  of 
Canaan,  Pittsfield,  Hartland,  St.  Albans,  Palmyra, 
Newport,  Etna,  Carmel  and  Hampden,  to  Bangor. 
Some  sections  of  the  return  route  from  Skowhegan  must 
have  been  of  a  somewhat  zigzag  character. 

Mr.  Eddy  gives  the  names  of  the  postmasters  upon 
his  route  in  1822  as  follows:  Mark  Trafton  at  Bangor, 
Moses  Hodsdon  at  Kenduskeag,  Richard  Palmer  at  West 
Corinth,  Reuben  Bartlett  at  Garland,  Dr.  Gilman 
Burleigh  at  Dexter,  John  Todd  at  Ripley,  Mr.  Bartlett 
at  Harmony,  John  Ware  at  Athens,  Thomas  Smith  at 
Cornville,  John  Wyman  at  Skowhegan,  Mr.  Tuttle  at 
Canaan,  Mr.  Foss  at  St.  Albans,  now  Hartland,  Dr. 
French  at  North  St.  Albans,  William  Lancey  at  Pal- 
myra, Mr.  Sanger  at  Newport,  Hollis  Friend  at  Etna, 
Deacon  Ruggles  at  Carmel,  Mr.  Stetson  at  Hampden 
Corner  and  Mr.  Vose  at  Hampden  Upper  Corner. 

The  adventurous  mail-carriers  had  their  regular  stop- 
ping places  where  they  rested  at  night,  except  when 
delayed  by  stress  of  weather,  bad  condition  of  roads, 
or  accident,  when  they  stopped  wherever  night  overtook 
them. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Campbell's  term  of  service,  in 
1826,  the  roads  had  been  so  much  improved  as  to  admit 
of  the  use  of  a  two-horse  covered  carriage  for  carrying 
the  mail  and  passengers.  This  was  a  step  forward  in 
the  march  of  improvement  which  was  highly  pleasing  to 
the  early  inhabitants.  Lawrence  Greene  of  Dexter  now 
began  to  carry  the  mail,  and  passengers,  from  Bangor  to 
Dexter. 


186  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Among  Mr.  Greene's  passengers  there  would  appear 
occasionally  one  or  more  of  the  dusky  inhabitants  of 
Indian  Old  Town.  It  was  a  great  marvel  to  the  small 
boy,  who  cast  a  frightened  look  into  the  carriage,  that 
Mr.  Greene  should  dare  to  carry  representatives  of  a 
race  whose  history  had  been  so  long  and  closely  associated 
with  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife. 

About  the  year  1830  the  mail-route  was  changed. 
Diverging  from  the  original  route  at  Corinth,  it  ran  by 
way  of  Exeter  Mills  and  Exeter  Corner  to  Dexter. 
From  this  time  onward.  Garland  was  supplied  with  mail 
matter  from  the  Exeter  Corner  office.  This  change  was 
followed  by  serious  inconvenience  to  the  residents  of 
Garland  for  many  years.  If  the  mail-carrier  made  his 
appearance  at  the  Garland  office  on  the  day  he  was  due, 
he  regarded  himself  at  liberty  to  fix  the  hour  to  suit  his 
own  convenience.  He  was  sometimes  a  day  late  as  a 
matter  of  convenience  to  himself. 

On  one  such  occasion  the  mail  had  been  changed 
and  the  carrier  had  started  along,  when  the  postmaster, 
Dr.  Joseph  Springall,  rushed  out  into  the  street,  bare- 
headed, as  if  some  sudden  thought  had  inspired  the 
movement,  and  with  characteristic  humor  exclaimed — 
'*Halloo,  young  man!  Say,  when  are  you  coming  this 
way  again  .f^" 


Garland  in  1819 

The  annual  meeting  of  1819  was  held  on  March  16. 
The  officers  chosen  were  Philip  Greeley,  moderator; 
Isaac  Wheeler,  clerk;  Isaac  Wheeler,  Josiah  Bartlett 
and    Ezekiel    Straw,     selectmen    and    assessors;    Isaac 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  187 

Wheeler,  Moses  Bus  well  and  Josiah  Bartlett,  superin- 
tending school  committee;  John  Chandler,  collector, 
with  a  compensation  of  one  per  cent. ,  and  Ezekiel  Straw, 
treasurer. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  four  hundred  dollars  for 
schools ;  one  thousand  dollars  to  build  and  repair  roads, 
and  eleven  dollars  and  fifty  cents  to  erect  guide-boards. 
A  second  town  meeting  was  held  on  April  5th,  to  act 
upon  various  matters  of  business,  but  nothing  of  impor- 
tance resulted. 

On  the  same  day  a  vote  for  governor  was  taken  when 
Hon.  John  Brooks,  Federalist,  received  thirteen  votes; 
Hon.  Benj.  Crowningshield,  Democrat,  received  nineteen 
votes. 

A  third  town  meeting  was  held  on  April  17,  when  the 
town  voted  that  one  half  of  the  sum  voted  at  the  annual 
meeting  for  support  of  schools,  also  the  seventy-five  dol- 
lars voted  for  town  charges,  might  be  paid  in  wheat  at 
one  dollar  and  fifty  cents,  com  at  one  dollar  and  twenty- 
five  cents,  and  rye  at  one  dollar  per  bushel,  if  delivered 
to  the  treasurer  by  the  first  day  of  February. 

The  most  severe  burden  resting  upon  the  early  inhabi- 
tants of  Garland  was  the  construction  and  repair  of 
rosuis.  The  original  withholding  of  every  alternate 
range  of  land  from  sale,  had  necessitated  a  large  mileage 
of  roads.  The  incoming  of  new  settlers  from  year  to 
year  increased  the  burden  of  road  building.  In  addition 
to  roads  for  local  convenience,  a  county  road  running 
obliquely  across  the  town,  which  had  been  established  in 
1817,  had  increased  the  burden  of  road  building. 

In  the  years  of  1817  and  1818,  the  town  had  taxed  its 
inhabitants  to  the  extent  of  their  ability  to  pay,  towards 
the  construction  of  the  county  road.  But  the  public 
was  not  satisfied  with  the  progress  made,  and  the  town 
was  indicted.      A  fourth  town  meeting  was  held  on  the 


188  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

4th  of  May  to  consider  the  method  of  dealing  with  the 
indictment,  when  it  was  voted  that  four  hundred  dollars 
of  the  one  thousand  dollars,  raised  at  the  annual  meeting 
for  building  and  repairing  roads,  should  be  expended  on 
the  county  road,  and  that  three  hundred  dollars,  in 
addition,  should  be  raised  by  assessment. 

John  S.  Haskell  was  appointed  agent  to  answer  to  the 
indictment  upon  the  road.  Philip  Greeley  and  William 
Godwin  were  appointed  to  superintend  the  labor  upon 
this  road. 

On  the  26th  of  July  the  legal  voters  of  Garland 
assembled  to  act  upon  the  following  question:  "Is  it 
expedient  that  the  District  of  Maine  shall  become  a 
separate  and  independent  State  on  the  terms  and  con- 
ditions of  an  Act  entitled  an  Act  i-elating  to  the  Sepa- 
ration of  the  District  of  Maine  from  Massachusetts 
proper,  and  forming  the  same  into  an  independent 
State?"  The  number  of  votes  cast  was  twenty-four 
which  were  all  in  favor  of  separation.  In  the  State  the 
majority  in  favor  of  separation  was  very  large. 

The  act  submitting  the  question  of  separation  to  the 
people  of  the  Province  of  Maine,  provided  that  if  a 
majority  of  fifteen  hundred  should  be  given  for  separa- 
tion, the  Governor  was  to  make  proclamation  of  the 
result  on,  or  after,  the  fourth  Monday  of  August,  1819. 
This  Act  also  provided  that  each  corporate  town  should 
be  empowered  to  send  at  least  one  delegate  to  a  conven- 
tion to  be  held  in  Portland,  on  the  second  Monday  in 
October,  to  form  a  constitution. 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  on  the  20th 
day  of  September  to  choose  a  delegate  to  the  constitu- 
tional convention  with  result  as  follows :  Amos  Gordon 
received  eighteen  votes;  Abner  Sanborn  received  ten 
votes ;  Moses  Bus  well  received  five  votes. 

At  the  appointed  time  Mr.  Gordon  was  found  in  his 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  189 

seat  at  the  convention.  The  legal  voters  of  Garland 
were  called  together  on  the  6th  day  of  December  for 
the  purpose  of  expressing  their  approbation  or  disap- 
probation of  the  constitution  emanating  from  the  con- 
vention. The  votes,  fifteen  in  number,  were  all  in  favor 
of  the  constitution  as  reported  from  the  convention. 
An  application  in  due  form  was  made  to  Congress,  for 
the  admission  of  Maine  to  the  Union,  and  on  the  third 
day  of  March,  1820,  it  was  admitted  to  the  Union  by 
an  act  to  take  effect  March  15,  1820. 

From  this  date,  the  Province  of  Maine,  which,  in  the 
language  of  Governor  Brooks,  had  been  bone  of  the 
bone  and  flesh  of  the  flesh  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  became  an  independent  State.  Whatever 
Maine  has  been  in  the  past,  whatever  she  is  now,  or 
whatever  she  may  become,  it  is  certain  that  no  state  can 
boast  of  a  more  illustrious  or  better  parentage  than 
Maine. 

An  incident  of  the  constitutional  convention  was  a 
somewhat  sharp  discussion  of  the  question,  "Shall  the 
new  state  be  styled  the  State  of  Maine  or  the  Common- 
wealth of  Maine?"  Fortunately,  the  good  sense  of  the 
convention  led  to  the  shorter  and  simpler  designation. 


Garland   From  1810  to  1820 

The  population  in  the  second  decade  increased  but 
slightly.  In  1810  it  was  236.  Ten  years  later,  it  was 
275,  an  increase  of  only  39.  While  the  roads  had  been 
somewhat  extended  and  improved,  and  school  facilities 
somewhat  enlarged,  the  condition  of  the  average  family 
had  not  improved.      The  poor  had  been  growing  poorer, 


190  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

and  the  debts  of  the  more  independent  had  been  increas- 
ing. A  few  families  had  moved  into  town,  a  larger 
number  had  moved  away. 

Among  those  who  had  cast  their  fortune  in  the  town 
in  the  second  decade  was  the  family  of  Plynn  Clark,  which 
settled  upon  the  place  now  owned  by  Leonard  Hathaway. 
Simon  Morgan,  from  Elkinstown,  moved  into  town  in 
1811  or  1812,  and  occupied  the  place  vacated  by  Mr. 
Griffin,  the  first  tanner,  which  was  located  at  the  foot  of 
the  slope  west  of  the  residence  of  David  Dearborn. 
The  Rev.  John  Sawyer  came  into  the  township  as  a  mis- 
sionary before  its  incorporation,  and  purchased  the  lot 
of  land  on  the  hill  where  D.  F.  Patten  resides,  and 
built  a  house  about  the  year  1813,  where  he  lived  with 
his  family  for  several  years. 

David  Crowell  lived  for  a  short  time  on  the  place  a 
little  west  of  the  schoolhouse,  in  District  No.  7,  now 
owned  by  David  Allen.  He  was  afterwards  a  well  known 
citizen  of  Exeter.  He  left  Garland  about  the  year 
1818. 

Philip  E.  Badger  moved  into  West  Garland  in  1818, 
or  a  year  later,  and  occupied  the  place  where  the 
Lawrence  family  afterwards  resided  for  many  years. 
Ellery  Stone  is  now  the  owner  of  the  same  place. 


Families  Who    Moved  Away  During   the 
Second  Decade 

Nathan  Merrill,  the  carpenter  and  spinning-wheel 
maker,  left  Garland  in  1810  or  1811,  and  took  up  resi- 
dence in  Charleston  in  1811.  The  families  of  William 
Dustin,  John  Grant,  Andrew  Kimball,  William  Sargent, 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  191 

James  McLure  and  William  Church,  left  the  town  in 
the  period  including  the  years  of  1814-15-16  and  17. 
Most  of  these  families  emigrated  to  Ohio,  allured  thither 
by  glowing  descriptions  of  the  productiveness  of  the  soil 
of  that  state. 

Many  of  these  families  suffered  keenly  the  discomforts 
of  homesickness  but,  alas,  they  were  too  poor  to  return. 
An  emigrant  to  Ohio  from  Exeter  wrote  to  a  friend  he 
hfid  left  behind  that  his  wife  had  shed  tears  of  home- 
sickness enough  to  grind  a  bushel  of  wet  corn. 

While  extravagant  descriptions  of  the  advantages  of 
western  life  promoted  emigration  thereto,  repellent 
influences  here  contributed  to  the  same  result.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  ordinary  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  the  people 
of  these  eastern  towns  had  been  subjected  to  extraordi- 
nary hardships  that  followed  in  the  wake  of  the  War  of 
1812.  The  interruption  of  commerce  by  the  Embargo 
Act  had  been  a  severe  blow  to  the  whole  country.  Near 
the  close  of  the  war,  navigation  between  Boston  and 
Bangor  had  been  suspended.  Goods  from  the  former  to 
the  latter  place  were  hauled  by  ox-teams. 

Our  citizen,  William  Stone,  is  the  possessor  of  an 
axle-tree  that  was  a  part  of  a  wagon  that  had  been  used 
in  the  transportation  of  goods  from  Boston  to  Bangor. 
Another  citizen,  the  late  Captain  John  Jackman,  assisted 
in  forging  this  axle-tree. 

The  war  had  closed  in  1814,  but  scarcely  had  the 
blessings  of  peace  dawned  upon  the  inhabitants,  when 
the  cold  seasons  of  1814-15  intervened  to  cut  off  the 
food  supply.  Causes  other  than  those  that  have  been 
mentioned  tended  to  the  decrease  of  population.  There 
are  in  almost  every  community,  families  who  are  the 
victims  of  an  everpresent  desire  for  change  of  place. 
Wherever  they  are,  they  long  to  be  somewhere  else. 
This  longing  for  change  is  contagious,  sometimes  infect- 


192  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

ing  whole  neighborhoods.  Families  are  sometimes  influ- 
enced to  a  change  of  residence  by  an  existing  special 
cause. 

The  emigration  of  Enos  Quimby,  one  of  the  early 
settlers,  from  Garland,  was  due  to  a  special  cause.  The 
locality  of  his  home  was  infested  by  innumerable  swarms 
of  mosquitoes  at  certain  seasons.  They  rushed  into  his 
unprotected  dwelling  in  clouds.  The  dire  discord  of 
their  music  coupled  with  their  thirst  for  blood,  disturbed 
the  peace  of  mind  of  Mrs.  Quimby  by  day,  and  her 
dreams  by  night.  Patiently  enduring  the  annoyance 
until  patience  ceased  to  be  a  virtue,  she  declared  that 
she  could  not  and  would  not  submit  to  it  longer.  She 
carried  her  point,  and  the  family  sought  a  new  home  in 
another  locality.  It  was  a  fine  illustration  of  the  force 
of  a  woman's  will  as  described  in  an  old  couplet — 

"When  she  will  she  will  you  may  depend  on't, 
When  she  won't  she  won't  and  that's  the  end  on't." 

It  must  not  be  inferred  however  that  Mrs.  Quimby 
lacked  courage  to  meet  the  ordinary  discomforts  of 
pioneer  life.  These  she  could  laugh  at.  The  mosquito 
scourge  was  quite  another  thing.  It  is  said  that  pas- 
sengers are  sometimes  driven  from  boats  on  the  lower 
Mississippi  by  the  swarms  of  voracious  mosquitoes  that 
infest  its  banks ;  that  the  boldest  rider  upon  the  fastest 
horse  dares  not  in  the  month  of  June  encounter  these 
blood-thirsty  pests  on  the  rank  and  fertile  prairies  of 
northern  Minnesota.  They  have  been  known  to  demor- 
alize brigades  of  soldiers  on  the  march  from  point  to 
point. 

Maine's  former  historian,  Mr.  Williamson,  estimated 
that  Maine  lost  from  ten  thousand  to  fifteen  thousand 
inhabitants  in  consequence  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  the 
cold  seasons  of  1814-15  and  1816. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAmE  193 


Garland  in  1820 

The  annual  meeting  of  1820  was  held  on  the  23d  day 
of  March.  The  warrant  calling  this  meeting  was  the 
last  issued  in  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts. The  following  officers  were  elected:  Philip 
Greeley,  moderator;  Isaac  Wheeler,  clerk;  Isaac 
Wheeler,  Josiah  Bartlett,  and  Ezekiel  Straw,  selectmen 
and  assessors;  Ezekiel  Straw,  treasurer,  and  James  J. 
Chandler,  collector  of  taxes,  whose  compensation  was 
fixed  at  two  and  one  fourth  per  cent. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  one  thousand  dollars  for  making 
and  repairing  highways,  and  that  for  men,  oxen,  and 
plows,  twelve  and  one  half  cents  should  be  allowed  per 
hour,  until  the  first  of  October.  It  was  voted  to  raise 
two  hundred  dollars  for  making  paths  in  winter,  and  to 
aUow  the  same  per  hour  for  the  labor  of  men  and  oxen 
as  in  summer. 

The  town  voted  that  taxes  assessed  for  support  of 
schools  and  for  town  charges,  may  be  paid  in  wheat  at 
nine  shillings,  or  in  com  or  rye  at  six  shillings  per 
bushel,  if  delivered  to  the  treasurer  by  the  20th  day  of 
January,  but  if  not  delivered  at  that  time,  must  be  paid 
in  money. 

On  the  3d  of  April,  1820,  the  legal  voters  were 
called  together  to  vote  for  governor  and  other  officers. 
All  previous  calls  had  been  issued  in  the  name  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  This,  and  all  subse- 
quent calls,  have  been  issued  in  the  name  of  the  State 
of  Maine  which,  if  less  pretentious  than  the  high 
sounding  title  by  which  they  had  been  called  to  the 
discharge  of  their  political  duties,  it  had  the  merit  of 
being  more  compact,  more  convenient,  and  more  in 
harmony  with  republican  simplicity. 


194  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAFNE 

In  the  convention  at  Portland  a  year  earlier,  to  frame 
a  constitution  for  the  new  State,  the  committee  which 
had  been  appointed  to  consider  the  question  of  title, 
reported  in  favor  of  calling  it  the  Commonwealth  of 
Maine.  Many  of  the  members  believed  that  the  handle 
was  disproportionate  to  the  size  of  the  pitcher;  that  the 
prefix  was  too  ponderous.  After  a  somewhat  sharp  dis- 
cussion, a  member  moved  the  word  "commonwealth"  be 
stricken  out.  The  motion  was  carried  by  a  vote  of  119 
to  113. 

On  the  following  day,  at  the  close  of  a  protracted  dis- 
cussion, an  ordinance  was  passed  providing  that  the  State 
should  be  known  by  the  style  and  title  of  the  State  of 
Maine.  Thus  fortunately,  for  coming  generations,  the 
word  state  took  the  place  of  the  ponderous  prefix,  com- 
monwealth. 

On  the  3d  day  of  April,  1820,  the  legal  voters  of 
Garland  assembled  to  cast  their  votes  for  governor  of 
the  new  State,  for  the  first  time,  with  the  following 
result :  William  King,  Democrat,  received  twenty  votes ; 
Ruel  Williams,  Democrat,  received  six  votes;  Albion  K. 
Paris,  Democrat,  received  three  votes;  Moses  Buswell 
received  one  vote. 

Mr.  King's  vote  in  the  State  was  twenty-one  thousand 
and  eighty-three,  against  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  three  for  all  other  candidates.  His  election  had 
long  been  predicted  on  account  of  his  ability  and  popu- 
larity as  a  man.  Mr.  Williams  was  a  man  of  decided 
ability,  and  highly  esteemed  for  liberality  in  matters  of 
public  importance.  He  was  afterwards  elected  to  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Paris  was  highly 
esteemed  for  his  excellent  qualities.  He  was  the  second 
governor  elected  by  the  people,  although  he  was  preceded 
by  two  acting  governors. 

On  the  day  of  the  gubernatorial  election,  the  legal 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  195 

voters  of  Garland  deposited  their  votes  for  representa- 
tive to  the  State  Legislature  with  result  as  follows: 
Cornelius  Coolidge  of  Dexter  received  seventeen  votes; 
Amos  Gordon  of  Garland  received  eleven  votes;  Joseph 
Garland  of  Garland  received  one  vote. 

Some  towTi  business  was  transacted  on  the  same  day, 
April  3d,  1820.  Reuben  Bartlett,  John  Chandler  and 
John  Trefethen  were  appointed  to  select  and  purchase 
one  acre  of  land  suitable  for  a  cemetery.  This  was  the 
first  action  of  the  town  looking  to  a  common  burial 
place  for  the  dead.  Previous  to  this  date  it  had  been 
the  custom  of  families  to  bury  relatives  on  their  own 
premises. 

There  having  been  no  choice  of  representative  to  the 
Legislature  at  the  first  trial,  the  legal  voters  assembled 
on  April  13th  for  a  second  trial,  with  result  as  follows: 
Captain  Joseph  Kelsey  of  Guilford  received  seven  votes; 
Seba  French  of  Dexter  received  five  votes;  Cornelius 
Coolidge  of  Dexter  received  eleven  votes. 

At  that  time  the  representative  class  embraced  the 
towns  of  Dexter,  Garland,  Guilford,  Sangerville  and 
Plantation  Number  Three  in  the  sixth  range. 


A  New  Epoch 

The  year  1820  opened  a  new  epoch  in  the  history  of 
Maine.  It  had  hitherto  been  a  dependency  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  Now  it  had  assumed 
the  character  of  an  independent  state.  The  tide  of 
emigration  had  been  setting  from  the  State.  It  had 
now  turned  this  way.  In  common  with  other  towns,  the 
town  of  Garland  shared  in  the  stimulating  influences  of 


196 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


returning  prosperity.  Among  the  accessions  to  its 
population  was  the  family  of  Reuben  Bartlett  from 
Nottingham,  N.  H. 

Mr.  Bartlett  purchased  the  village  mill  property  of 
Mr.  Church,  which  included  a  saw  and  grist-mill.  He 
moved  his  family  into  a  small  house  a  few  rods  west  of 
the  present  saw-mill  which  had  been  built  by  his  prede- 
cessor, Mr.  Church.  Five  or  six  years  later  he  built 
the  two-story  house  now  owned  by  C.  F.  Osgood,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death  in  1835. 

The  coming  of  the  True  family  from  Deerfield,  N.  H. , 
occurred  in  1820.  This  family  embraced  the  father  and 
mother,  Joseph  True  and  wife,  two  sons,  Abram  True 
and  Joseph,  Jr. ,  and  several  daughters.  Mr.  Time  moved 
into  the  house  built  by  James  McCluer  on  the  place 
now  owned  by  David  Allen,  where  he  lived  several  years. 

About  the  year  1827  he  moved  into  the  house  built 
by  his  son,  Joseph  True,  Jr.,  at  the  center  of  the  town, 
now  owned  by  James  Stone.  Abram  True  moved  his 
family  into  the  house  of  a  Mrs.  Burton,  which  was  located 
on  a  site  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  below  the  present  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Merriam.  He  afterwards  built 
and  occupied  a  house  near  the  residence  of  the  writer. 

Joseph  True,  Jr.,  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
journey  of  his  father's  family  to  Maine.  Joseph  was  at 
that  time  a  resolute  boy  of  nineteen  years.  On  the 
same  day  that  the  other  members  of  the  family  took 
passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  he 
started  on  horseback  and  traveled  solitary  and  alone  on 
his  way  to  Garland.  During  his  six  days'  ride  no  inci- 
dent intervened  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  the  journey. 
But,  as  showing  that  the  early  settlers  of  western 
Penobscot  were  largely  from  New  Hampshire,  he  passed 
four  of  the  five  nights  of  his  journey  with  families  who 
had  emigrated  from  his  own  school-district  in  Deerfield. 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  197 


Garland  in  1821 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  on  the  22d  of 
January,  1821,  "to  see  if  the  town  will  allow  the  inhab- 
itants to  pay  their  taxes  in  grain  after  the  20th  of 
February  instant."  Upon  this  question  it  was  voted 
that  the  treasurer  should  receive  grain  in  payment  for 
taxes  until  the  15th  day  of  February  next.  It  was  also 
voted  to  have  the  highway  taxes  for  1820  made  agree- 
ably to  the  Constitution  of  Maine.  The  call  for  this 
action  is  not  quite  apparent. 

The  annual  meeting  of  1821  was  held  on  April  4th. 
Philip  Greeley  was  chosen  moderator ;  Reuben  Bartlett, 
town  clerk;  Isaac  Wheeler,  Philip  Greeley  and  Reuben 
Bartlett,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Ezekiel  Straw,  treas- 
urer, and  Isaac  Wheeler,  Reuben  Bartlett  and  Philip 
Greeley,  superintending  school  committee. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  twelve  hundred  dollars  to  build 
and  repair  highways,  four  hundred  doUars  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools,  fifty-five  dollars  to  pay  arrearages,  and 
fifty  dollars  for  town  expenses.  It  was  voted  that  the 
road  tax  should  be  paid  in  labor,  and  other  taxes  in 
grain ;  wheat  at  nine  shillings,  and  com  and  rye  at  six 
shillings  per  bushel  each.  John  M.  Fifield  was  chosen 
collector  of  taxes,  and  a  compensation  of  nine  mills  per 
dollar  voted  for  the  service. 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  on  the  10th 
of  September  to  vote  for  governor  and  other  State 
officers.  For  governor,  Albion  K.  Parris  received  forty 
votes;  Joshua  Wingate  received  five  votes;  Isaac  Case 
received  one  vote. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Daniel  Wilkins 
of  Charleston  received  thirty-five  votes;  Cornelius 
Coolidge  of  Dexter  received  ten  votes. 


198  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Action  of  the  Town  Relating  to  Lots  of  Land 
Reserved  for   Public  Purposes 

In  the  resolve  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
granting  the  township  now  known  as  Garland  to 
Williams  College,  three  lots  of  land  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  each  were  reserved  for  public  purposes, 
to  wit:  one  lot  for  the  use  of  schools,  one  lot  for  the 
first  settled  minister,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  and  one  lot 
for  the  use  of  the  ministry.  In  the  conveyance  of  the 
township  by  the  college  to  the  men  known  as  the  origi- 
nal proprietors  the  same  reservations  were  made.  The 
first  action  of  the  town  with  reference  to  the  reserved 
lots  was  at  a  meeting  on  September  10,  18J21,  when 
Isaac  Wheeler,  Jeremiah  Flanders,  Philip  Greeley, 
William  Godwin  and  John  Chandler,  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  examine  the  reserved  lots,  and  determine 
which  should  be  reserved  for  the  benefit  of  schools,  which 
for  the  first  settled  minister,  and  which  for  the  ministry. 

Another  meeting  was  held  on  October  8th.  The 
records  fail  to  show  that  there  was  any  report  from  the 
committee  appointed  at  the  previous  meeting.  At  the 
meeting  of  October  8th,  the  following  articles  were 
presented  for  consideration: 

'*To  see  if  the  town  will  make  provision  for  the 
settlement  of  Elder  Robinson,  or  any  other  person,  as  a 
public  preacher  of  the  gospel  in  this  town.  It  was 
voted  that  so  much  of  this  article  as  relates  to  Elder 
Robinson  be  passed  over,  and  that  a  committee  be 
appointed  to  invite  some  person  to  preach  in  town  on 
trial.  It  was  also  voted  that  a  man  who  shall  be  accept- 
able to  the  town  as  a  public  teacher  of  morality,  piety 
and  religion,  shall  receive  one  hundred  acres  of  the  pub- 
lic   land."       Isaac    Wheeler,   Reuben    Bartlett,   Joseph 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  199 

Garland,  John  S.  Haskell  and  Thomas  S.  Tyler  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  execute  the  purposes  of  this 
vote. 


Number  of  Families  in  What  is  Now  Garland 
Village  in  1821 

Our  well-remembered  citizen,  the  late  David 
Fogg,  who  came  to  Garland  in  1821,  and  became  a 
member  for  the  time  being  of  the  family  of  his  brother- 
in-law,  Abraham  True,  is  authority  for  the  state- 
ment that  at  the  date  of  his  coming,  1821,  there  were 
only  five  families  within  the  limits  of  what  now  is  Gar- 
land village.  These  were  the  families  of  a  Mrs.  Burton, 
Abraham  True,  Reuben  Bartlett,  Dr.  Moses  Buswell 
and  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.  The  True  and  Burton  fami- 
lies lived  together  in  a  house  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
below  the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Merriam. 
The  remains  of  an  old  cellar  indicate  the  site  of  the 
house. 

Reuben  Bartlett  lived  in  a  little  house  on  the  brow 
near  the  present  village  saw-mill  which  had  been  built 
a  few  years  earlier.  Doctor  Buswell  lived  in  a  house 
near  the  center  of  the  village  in  proximity  to  the 
site  of   the  present  residence  of  Elmer  Hill. 

Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  lived  in  a  house  on  the  site  of 
the  residence  of  the  late  William  Foss,  now  the  home  of 
F.  D.  Wood.  The  post-office  in  1821  was  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Reuben  Bartlett,  now  owned  by  C.  F.  Osgood. 
The  mail  which  was  received  once  each  week  was  brought 
on  horseback  in  summer,  and  in  a  pung  in  winter. 

Outside  the  limits  of  the  village,  several  men  estab- 


200  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

lished  homes  in  the  town  in  1821.  Among  these  were 
Jacob  Greeley,  who  built  on  the  hill  a  little  way  north 
of  the  schoolhouse  in  District  No.  1  (Dearborn). 

Benjamin  Pressey  established  a  home  within  the  limits 
of  the  present  school  District  No.  3,  where  the  late  B. 
L.  Trundy  resided.  Samuel  Greeley,  afterwards  a  well- 
known  citizen,  emigrated  from  Salisbury,  N.  H.,  and 
lived  in  the  house  vacated  by  Joseph  Garland,  the  first 
citizen  of  the  town,  about  this  time. 

The  late  Jeremiah  Ladd  gave  the  following  account  of 
the  coming  of  the  Ladd  family  to  Garland.  His  father. 
Captain  Daniel  Ladd,  a  native  of  Lee,  N.  H. ,  emigrated 
to  Garland  in  1821.  He  first  lived  on  the  William 
Blaisdell  place,  then  upon  the  place  now  occupied  by 
James  L.  Rideout.  In  1823  he  bought  the  farm  for- 
merly the  residence  of  Rev.  A.  P.  Andrews,  where  he 
built  a  small  house.  The  carpenter's  work  upon  this 
house  was  done  by  the  late  Joseph  Prescott,  who  had 
then  just  come  to  the  town,  and  a  Mr.  Avery.  Three 
or  four  years  later,  he  bought  the  Joseph  Saunders  place, 
near  the  hill  known  as  High  Cut,  afterwards  known  as 
the  Emerson  place.  He  then  purchased  land  adjoining 
the  Emerson  place  and  built  on  it. 

His  next  move  was  to  the  place  now  owned  by  Charles 
H.  Brown.  Captain  Ladd  came  into  the  town  over  the 
old  county  road.  The  first  building  he  passed  after 
entering  the  town  was  a  mechanic's  shop,  located  near 
the  late  residence  of  Story  Jones,  now  owned  by  Aaron 
Knight,  and  which  was  owned  by  two  brothers  of  the 
name  of  Davis. 

The  second  building  passed  was  a  house  nearly  oppo- 
site the  present  residence  of  Glenn  Morgan.  There  had 
been  other  families  between  this  house  and  the  village 
which  had  moved  away.  Captain  Ladd  found  the  road 
that  led  into  town  almost  impassable.     The  swamps  and 


HISTOBY    OF    GAELAND,     MAIN£  201 

wet  places  were  spanned  by  logs  placed  across  the  road 
side  by  side,  known  as  corduroy  road. 

A  ride  over  this  kind  of  road  was  tiresome  to  passers 
over  it,  and  wearing  to  carnages. 


Garland  in  1822 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1822,  held  April  3d,  Philip 
Greeley  was  chosen  moderator;  Reuben  Bartlett,  town 
clerk;  Isaac  Wheeler,  Reuben  Bartlett  and  Ezekiel 
Straw,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Isaac  Wheeler,  Reuben 
Bartlett  and  Ezekiel  Straw,  superintending  school  com- 
mittee. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  for  the 
support  of  schools,  twelve  hundred  dollars  to  build  and 
repair  highways,  one  hundred  dollai-s  to  repair  school- 
houses,  seventy-five  dollars  to  pay  town  charges,  twenty 
dollars  to  buy  powder,  and  that  the  taxes  should  be  paid 
in  wheat  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  or  in  corn  or 
rye  at  eighty-four  cents  per  bushel,  the  grain  to  be  deliv- 
ered to  the  treasurer  by  the  first  day  of  February. 

On  September  9,  the  legal  voters  assembled  to  indi- 
cate their  choice  for  governor  and  other  officers,  when 
Albion  K.  Parris  received  thirty-three  votes;  Ezekiel 
Whitman  received  twenty -three  votes;  Philip  Greeley 
received  one  vote. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Winthrop 
Chapman  of  Exeter  received  twenty-three  votes ;  Daniel 
Wilkins  of  Charleston  received  fourteen  votes. 

Mr.  Wilkins  was  the  successful  candidate  in  the  dis- 
trict. On  the  same  day  the  town  voted  to  assist  one  of 
its  worthy  citizens,  who  had  come  to  a  condition  where 


9,09,  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

assistance  was  needed,   to   the  amount  of  fifty  dollars 

This    is    the  earliest    record  of   assistance  to  the  poor. 

John  Hayes  collected  the  taxes  this  year  for  five  mills 
per  dollar. 


Newcomers  in    1822 

Ansel  Field  of  Paris,  Maine,  took  up  his  residence  in 
Garland  in  1822,  and  purchased  land  on  the  old  county 
road,  about  one  mile  south  of  the  village,  where  he 
erected  buildings  and  lived.  Mr.  Field  and  his  wife 
united  with  the  Congregational  church.  At  the  end  of 
about  fifteen  years  he  returned  to  Paris.  The  farm  he 
left  was  purchased  by  the  friends  of  the  Rev.  John 
Sawyer.  The  venerable  clergyman  spent  the  last  years 
of  his  eventful  life  in  the  town  where  he  had  been  instru- 
mental in  the  organization  of  the  third  Congregational 
church  within  the  present  limits  of  Penobscot  County. 
The  farm  where  he  lived  is  now  owned  by  Glenn  Morgan. 

George  R.  Coffin  came  to  Garland  as  early  as  1822, 
and  established  a  home  on  lot  two,  range  five,  where  he 
lived  for  many  years.  This  farm,  once  owned  b}^  Deacon 
L.  M.  Rideout,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Galen  S. 
Burrill. 

Joseph  Prescott  and  Jeremiah  Avery  came  to  the  town 
in  1822  to  ply  their  trade  as  carpenters.  Mr.  Avery 
remained  in  town  only  a  short  time.  Mr.  Prescott 
bought  of  Joseph  Sargent  a  part  of  lot  four,  range  four, 
where  he  made  a  home  for  his  family  and  lived  until  his 
death  in  1849. 

The  name  of  Walter  Holbrook  appears  on  the  records 
of  the  town  as  early  as  1822.      He  established  a  home 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  203 

on  lot  four,  range  six,  where  he  lived  until  about  the 
year  1835,  when  he  returned  to  Massachusetts. 

James  Powers  came  to  town  in  1822.  He  married  a 
sister  of  Captain  John  L.  Jackman. 

Benjamin  Pressey  established  a  home  in  the  Parkman 
neighborhood,  south  of  the  pond,  once  owned  by  B.  L, 
Trundy,  now  the  home  of  Loren  Curtis.  He  was  a 
carpenter,  and  built  for  the  Fogg  family  the  house  a  few 
rods  east  of  the  schoolhouse  in  District  No.  3. 
William  Soule  moved  into  the  town  about  the  year  1822, 
and  settled  in  the  Parkman  neighborhood,  south  of  the 
pond.  He  had  a  large  family  of  boys,  among  whom 
were  Gideon,  David,  John  and  Rufus. 

Samuel  *W.  Knight's  name  appears  upon  the  military 
roll  of  1822,  which  is  about  the  date  of  his  becoming  a 
resident  of  the  town.  He  purchased  a  part  of  lot  two, 
in  range  seven,  where  he  made  a  home  for  his  family 
and  lived  until  his  death.  This  old  homestead  in  1890 
was  owned  by  the  late  Cyrus  Snell,  whose  son  Charles 
afterwards  became  the  owner  and  has  recently  sold  to 
Mrs.  Ruel  Maguire. 

Dr.  Seth  Fogg  emigrated  from  Deerfield,  N.  H.,  to 
Garland  in  the  year  1822,  bringing  with  him  a  large 
family  of  sons  and  daughters.  One  son,  David,  and  one 
daughter,  Mrs.  Abraham  True,  were  here  a  year  or  two 
earlier.  Doctor  Fogg  first  moved  into  the  house  vacated 
a  few  years  earlier  by  William  Sargent,  on  the  place 
where  James  L.  Rideout  now  resides.  In  1823  he  moved 
into  the  Burton  house,  located  a  few  rods  north  of  the 
present  house  of  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Merriam.  Shortly 
after,  he  moved  into  the  house  that  had  been  built  for 
the  Fogg  family  by  Mr.  Pressey,  where  his  death  soon 
occurred.  This  house  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
John  McComb,  Jr. 


204  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Search  for  a    Missing  Child    in  a  Neighboring 

Town  in  Which  Citizens  of  Garland 

Participated 

Common  privations  and  hardships  united  the  early 
inhabitants  of  a  town  in  bonds  of  earnest  and  sincere 
sympathy.  Each  citizen  of  the  town  was  neighbor  to 
every  other  citizen,  and  was  always  ready  to  assist  others 
in  cases  of  sickness,  accident,  or  misfortune.  Nor  was 
such  sympathy  pent  up  within  town  limits. 

An  incident  occurred  in  a  neighboring  town  that  illus- 
trates this  phase  of  social  life  in  early  times.  On  the 
sixth  of  June,  1822,  a  little  four-year-old  daughter  of 
Daniel  Ames  of  Sangerville  was  sent  early  in  the  day  to 
a  neighbor's  house,  a  short  distance  away,  on  some 
trivial  errand.  She  was  obliged  to  pass  through  a  nar- 
row piece  of  woodland  to  reach  the  point  to  which  she 
was  sent. 

Not  returning  as  .soon  as  she  was  expected,  a  boy  was 
sent  to  inquire  further,  who  was  told  by  the  neighbor 
that  she  had  not  been  seen  there  during  the  day.  Night 
was  near.  The  neighbors  were  quickly  alarmed  and 
providing  themselves  with  canteens  and  torches,  spent 
almost  the  entire  night  in  an  anxious,  but  fruitless  search 
for  the  missing  child. 

Early  the  next  morning,  a  dozen  young  men  were  sent 
to  traverse  the  woodland,  a  little  distance  apart,  and 
listen  for  the  faintest  sounds  of  alarm  or  distress  which 
perchance  might  come  from  the  lips  of  the  little  girl, 
but  no  sound  was  heard.  The  alarm  soon  reached 
adjoining  towns,  where  companies  of  men  were  speedily 
organized  to  assist  in  the  search.  Among  these  was  a 
company  from  Garland,  under  direction  of  Captain 
Philip  Greeley. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  205 

The  search  was  continued  through  several  days.  It 
was  not  relinquished  until  the  last  ray  of  hope  had  van- 
ished from  the  hearts  of  distressed  relatives.  The  fate 
of  the  little  girl  is  to  this  day  shrouded  in  mystery. 


Masonic    Lodge 

A  lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  was  organized 
in  Garland  on  January  24,  1822,  in  the  hall  of  the  two- 
story  house  then  owned  and  occupied  by  William 
Godwin,  which  stood  upon  the  site  of  the  house  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  William  H. 
Knight.  The  house  of  two  stories  has  since  given  place 
to  a  house  of  smaller  dimensions. 

This  was  the  second  lodge  organized  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  County  of  Penobscot,  and  the  thirty-fifth 
within  the  limits  of  Maine.  It  embraced  membei*s  from 
adjoining  towns,  including  Exeter  and  Dexter,  and  was 
known  as  the  Penobscot  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons. 

Some  of  the  leading  members  living  in  Garland  were 
Isaac  Wheeler,  Philip  Greeley,  Jeremiah  Flanders  and 
William  Godwin.  Years  later,  the  headquarters  of  this 
lodge  were  removed  to  Dexter. 


Garland   in    1823 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  were  summoned  to  meet 
on  April  7,  1823,  to  vote  for  a  representative  to  Con- 
gress. For  this  office  William  Emerson  of  Bangor 
received  forty  votes;  Obed  Wilson  received  four  votes. 


206  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Neither  of  these  candidates  was  elected.  There  was, 
however,  a  significance  in  the  large  relative  vote  of  Mr. 
Emerson  which  is  worthy  of  mention.  It  had  no  relation 
to  party  politics  or  locality.  He  was  a  merchant  in 
Bangor,  and  had  rendered  valuable  assistance  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Garland  in  the  time  of  their  sorest  need 
at  much  personal  risk. 

At  the  opening  of  1817,  there  was  great  destitution 
of  seed  for  the  crops  of  the  approaching  summer,  a  fact 
that  had  found  place  in  the  heart  of  the  generous  mer- 
chant. With  rare  thoughtfulness,  and  rarer  generosity, 
he  advised  them  to  prepare  the  largest  possible  acreage 
for  crops,  and  accompanied  his  advice  with  the  offer  to 
furnish  them  with  seed  which  had  been  withheld  by  the 
disastrous  summer  of  the  preceding  year,  and  to  extend 
to  them  the  privilege  of  making  compensation  when 
more  propitious  seasons  should  provide  the  means  to  pay. 

The  grateful  people  of  Garland  believed  that  a  man 
possessing  the  fine  personal  qualities  that  had  been 
exhibited  by  Mr.  Emerson,  would  worthily  represent 
them  in  Congress  if  elected.  It  afforded  them  an  oppor- 
tunity to  exhibit  their  grateful  appreciation  of  remem- 
bered generosity  which  they  did  not  fail  to  improve. 

The  annual  town  meeting  was  held  also  on  the  seventh 
of  April.  Philip  Greeley  was  chosen  moderator; 
Reuben  Bartlett,  clerk;  Reuben  Bartlett,  Ezekiel  Straw 
and  Daniel  Ladd,  selectmen  and  assessors ;  Isaac  Wheeler, 
Samuel  Warren  and  Daniel  Ladd,  superintending  school 
committee;  Philip  Greeley  was  appointed  collector  of 
taxes,  and  a  compensation  of  two  per  cent,  voted  him. 
Isaac  Wheeler  was  chosen  treasurer. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  one  thousand  dollars  to  make 
and  repair  highways,  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools,  to  be  paid  in  grain,  wheat  at  one  dol- 
lar and  twenty-five  cents,  and  corn  and  rye  at  eighty- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  207 

four  cents  each ;  and  thirty-five  dollars  for  the  purchase 
of  powder  to  be  paid  in  the  same  currency.  One  hun- 
dred dollars  was  voted  to  pay  town  charges,  fifty -five 
dollars  of  which  was  to  be  paid  in  money  and  forty-five 
dollars  in  grain.  The  fifty-five  dollars  mentioned  in  this 
vote  was  the  first  money  raised  in  Garland  as  payment  of 
taxes.  It  may  fairly  be  inferred  from  this  fact  that 
money  was  not  overabundant  in  the  early  years  of  the 
town's  history. 

Previous  to  1823,  the  highway  tax  had  been  paid  in 
labor,  and  all  other  taxes  in  grain. 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  to  cast  their 
votes  for  governor  and  other  officers  on  September  7th. 
For  governor,  Albion  K.  Parris  received  forty  votes.  For 
representative  to  the  Legislature,  Cornelius  Coolidge  of 
Dexter  received  twenty-two  votes;  Nathaniel  Oak  of 
Exeter  received  eleven  votes. 

This  election  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Mr.  Parris  for 
governor,  and  Mr.  Coolidge  for  representative  to  the 
State  Legislature.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  while  the 
ftill  vote  for  governor  in  Bangor  was  only  eighty-four, 
the  vote  in  Garland  for  the  same  officer  was  forty. 


First  Store  in  Garland  Village 

What  is  now  Garland  village  did  not  grow  as  fast  as 
other  parts  of  the  town.  This  was  due  to  the  repressive 
policy  of  the  agent  of  the  proprietors,  who  would  sell 
land  only  at  prices  much  above  its  real  value.  Of  the 
forty-five  petitioners  for  an  Act  of  Incorporation  in 
1810,  not  more  than  three  or  four  resided  within  the 
limits  of  the  present  village. 


208  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Of  the  forty-five  families  living  in  the  town  in  1820, 
only  five  families  resided  in  the  village.  The  first  store 
in  the  village  was  built  in  1823  by  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq. 
Upon  its  completion,  Abraham  Cox  and  John  Walker, 
afterwards  a  well  known  merchant  of  Exeter  for  many 
years,  put  a  stock  of  goods  into  it.  Their  success  was 
not  flattering  and  they  abandoned  the  business  after  a 
short  trial.  The  building  has  since  been  used  for  vari- 
ous kinds  of  merchandising.  For  the  last  twenty  years 
it  has  afforded  a  very  convenient  place  for  the  purposes 
of  a  post-office. 

Following  Cox  &  Walker,  it  has  been  occupied  in  turn 
by  Charles  Reynolds,  Charles  Plummer,  Calvin  S. 
Wheeler,  John  S.  Kimball,  Stephen  Kimball,  John  H. 
Ramsdell,  Elijah  Norcross,  Charles  Chandler,  Lorenzo 
Oak,  a  Mr.  Dunham,  Johnson  &  Preble,  (N.  W. 
Johnson  and  Wins  Preble)  and  Henry  C.  Preble.  A 
millinery  business  was  carried  on  in  one  of  its  apart- 
ments by  the  late  Mrs.  Octavia  Hobbie,  Miss  Lizzie 
Rideout,  and  the  late  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Johnson,  for  several 
years. 

Returning  to  the  events  of  1823,  Garland  was  favored 
by  the  coming  of  several  families  during  that  year. 
Among  these  was  the  family  of  Joseph  Sargent,  who 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  his  brother  William 
made  a  beginning  in  1802,  now  the  residence  of  James 
Rideout. 

Mr.  Sargent  emigrated  from  Boscawen,  N.  H.  His 
goods  were  brought  to  Bangor  by  water,  while  his  family 
made  the  journey  to  the  same  place  overland. 

Leaving  their  children  at  Bangor,  they  made  the  trip 
to  Garland  with  horse  and  wagon.  Their  ride  to  this 
place  was  along  a  road  that  bore  but  faint  resemblance 
to  New  Hampshire  turnpikes.  Arriving  at  their  new 
home  they  found  but  little  to  inspire  confidence  or  hope 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  209 

for  the  future.  The  home  they  had  left  behind,  from 
which  they  had  been  driven  by  adverse  foi-tune,  was  fur- 
nished with  all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  that 
characterized  the  best  homes  of  the  rural  districts  of 
New  Hampshire  at  that  time.  The  home  they  found  at 
the  end  of  their  journey  was  scarcely  suggestive  of 
home. 

The  family  moved  into  the  house  of  a  neighbor  to 
remain  until  their  own  house  could  be  made  habitable. 
The  contrast  between  the  old  and  new  home  was  the 
occasion  of  much  grief  to  Mrs.  Sargent.  Although 
naturally  of  a  lively  and  cheerful  disposition,  she  spent 
many  an  hour  in  weeping  when  alone.  But  she  was  a 
woman  of  the  heroic  type  and  resolutely  concealed  her 
own  sadness  when  in  the  presence  of  others.  By  the 
force  of  industry  and  good  management,  prosperity  at 
length  returned  to  this  family,  bearing  with  it  the  well 
earned  enjoyments  that  blessed  their  earlier  life. 


Garland  in  1824 

The  annual  town  meeting  of  1824  was  held  on  March 
80.  Philip  Greeley  was  chosen  moderator;  Reuben 
Bartlett,  town  clerk;  Daniel  Ladd,  Ansel  Field  and 
Walter  Holbrook,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Isaac 
Wheeler,  treasurer ;  Isaac  Wheeler,  Samuel  Warren  and 
Ansel  Field,  superintending  school  committee,  and 
Daniel  Moore,  collector  of  taxes,  for  a  compensation  of 
two  per  cent. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  one  thousand  dollars  to  make 
and  repair  highways,  four  hundred  dollars  for  the  sup- 
port  of  schools,    and    fifty  dollars  to  buy  powder  and 


210  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

defray  town  charges.  For  the  first  time  the  town  voted 
that  all  taxes  except  highway  taxes  should  be  paid  in 
money.  The  first  step  towards  this  policy  had  been 
taken  a  year  earlier. 

The  election  for  the  choice  of  governor  and  other 
officers  was  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  September, 
when  Albion  K.  Parris  received  thirty-four  votes  for  gov- 
eraor ;  Cornelius  Coolidge  received  thirty-three  votes  for 
representative  to  the  State  Legislature.  Mr.  Coolidge 
was  the  successful  candidate. 


A  Mustering  of  the  Militia 

An  event  of  more  than  local  interest  occurred  in  Gar- 
land in  1824.  It  was  nothing  less  than  the  mustering 
of  the  companies  of  the  fifth  regiment  of  the  militia. 
Other  regimental  musters  occurred  in  town,  but  a 
description  of  one  will  answer  for  all.  The  troops  were 
assembled  on  the  level  field  on  the  north  side  of  the 
road  leading  to  Dexter,  belonging  to  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq. 
There  were  no  buildings,  public  or  private,  upon  this 
street  at  that  time.  Where  now  stands  the  town-house, 
the  Congregational  church  and  parsonage,  and  private 
residences,  there  were  tents  and  booths  for  the  sale  of 
gingerbread,  pies,  and  food  of  a  more  substantial  char- 
acter for  the  hungry,  new  cider  and  beer  for  the  thirsty 
youngsters,  and  something  stronger  for  older  people. 
Indeed  the  latter  drink  sometimes  acquired  mastery  over 
men  who  were  among  our  best  citizens. 

There  was  here  and  there  a  dance-floor  of  rough 
plank  where  men  under  the  influence  of  the  favorite  New 
England  beverage  disported  by  scraping  the  bottoms  of 
their  heavy  brogans  to  the  music  of  a  cracked  violin. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  211 


A  Political  Campaign  Projected 

The  year  1824  marked  the  opening  of  a  Presidential 
campaign.  The  politicians  of  the  Congressional  district 
of  which  Garland  was  a  part,  called  a  convention  to 
assemble  on  the  day,  and  at  the  place  of  the  general 
muster,  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  Presidential  elector 
and  to  organize  for  the  campaign.  Jonathan  FaiTar,  a 
well  known  citizen  of  Dexter,  was  nominated  for  elector. 
A  large  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  an  address 
to  the  voters  of  the  district  setting  forth  the  issues 
involved  in  the  campaign. 

Bangor,  Levant,  Charleston,  Exeter,  Dexter,  Corinth 
and  Garland  were  represented  in  this  committee.  Gar- 
land was  represented  by  Philip  Greeley  and  Amos 
Gordon.  The  assembling  of  two  such  bodies  as  the  regi- 
mental muster,  and  the  Congressional  district  convention, 
on  the  same  day  may  be  regarded  as  a  "red  letter"  day 
in  the  early  history  of  Garland. 


Garland  in  1825 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1825,  held  on  April  4th, 
the  officers  chosen  were  Daniel  Ladd,  moderator ;  Reuben 
Bartlett,  town  clerk;  Daniel  Ladd,  Ansel  Field  and 
Walter  Holbrook,  selectmen;  Isaac  Wheeler,  Dr.  Seth 
Fogg  and  Paul  M.  Fisher,  superintending  school  com- 
mittee, and  William  Godwin,  treasurer. 

The  town  appropriated  four  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  fifteen  hundred  dollars  for  roads,  one  hundred 
and  five  dollars  for  town  charges,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty  dollai*s  to  pay  existing  demands.      Daniel  Moore 


212  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

was  chosen  collector,  and  his  compensation  was  fixed  at 
four  and  nine  tenths  per  cent.  It  was  voted  to  receive 
grain  for  all  taxes  except  highway  taxes  which  were  to 
be  paid  in  labor.  Prices  fixed  for  grain  were  seven 
shillings,  and  sixpence  for  wheat,  five  shillings  for  corn, 
and  six  shillings  for  rye. 


Fall  Elections 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  on  September 
12th  to  vote  for  governor  and  other  officers. 

For  governor,  Albion  K.  Parr  is  received  eighteen 
votes ;  Enoch  Lincoln  received  fourteen  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Winthrop 
Chapman  received  twenty -four  votes;  Reuben  Bartlett 
received  seven  votes. 

Mr.  Parris  was  elected  governor  by  a  large  majority. 
Neither  of  the  candidates  for  the  State  Legislature  sup- 
ported by  the  voters  of  Garland  was  elected.  Cornelius 
Coolidge  of  Dexter  was  the  successful  candidate.  The 
representative  class  embraced,  at  that  time,  the  towns  of 
Garland,  Exeter,  Corinth,  Charleston  and  Dexter. 


Destructive  Fires  in  1825 

The  farmers  of  central  Maine  were  favored  with 
abundant  crops  in  1825.  The  continual  warm  weather 
of  the  summer  season  resulted  not  only  in  abundance  of 
crops,  but  in  early  harvests,  thus  giving  the  farmers  a 
long  autumnal  season  for  its  appropriate  work.      At  that 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,    MAINE  213 

time  a  majority  of  the  farmers  in  this  section  were 
increasing  the  area  of  their  crop-producing  lands  from 
year  to  year.  In  the  work  of  clearing  the  lands  of  the 
forests  that  covered  them,  fire  was  an  indispensable 
agency. 

Late  in  the  summer,  and  early  in  the  autumn  of  1825, 
fires  were  extensively  kindled  in  aid  of  clearing  lands, 
and  the  farmers  congratulated  each  other  upon  getting 
"good  burns. "  But  the  warm  weather  that  had  given 
them  good  crops,  early  harvests,  and  aided  them  in  get- 
ting "good  bums,"  had  also  dried  the  surface  of  their 
lands,  and  had  made  everything  of  a  combustible  nature 
food  for  flames.  By  the  last  of  September,  wells  had 
become  dry,  rivers  and  streams  had  been  greatly  reduced 
in  volume,  and  brooks  had  disappeared. 

The  late  Rev.  Amasa  Loring,  who  was  warmly  engaged 
with  his  neighbors  in  efforts  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the 
flames,  says  in  his  History  of  Piscataquis  County  that 
much  of  the  cleared  land  contained  decaying  stumps, 
and  was  enclosed  with  log  fences,  while  the  stubble  upon 
the  grain  and  mowing  fields  was  thick  and  rank,  and 
all  as  dry  as  tinder,  and  that  fires  that  had  been  set  did 
not  go  out,  but  lingered  and  smouldered  still,  and  that 
in  the  evening  of  October  7th,  after  a  still  and  smoky 
day,  a  violent  gale  from  the  north  and  northwest  fanned 
these  smouldering  fires  into  a  furious  and  rushing  blaze. 
Men  and  boys  were  hurried  to  the  earlier  points  of 
danger,  but  were  soon  summoned  back  to  fight  the  fire 
from  their  own  threatened  dwellings.  As  morning  broke, 
the  wind  subsided,  and  the  fires  lulled  away  relieving  the 
terror  of  the  stricken  and  weary  inhabitants.  With 
respect  to  the  results  of  the  disastrous  fire — Mr.  Loring 
says — "Almost  every  man's  wood-land  had  been  burned 
over,  and  much  of  its  growth  killed,  large  tracks  of  tim- 


SI  4  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

ber  land  had  been  severely  injured  and  many  buildings 
destroyed." 

Hon.  John  E.  Godfrey  says  in  his  Annals  of  Bangor, 
that  the  roaring  of  the  fire  was  like  thunder,  and  was 
heard  at  a  distance  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen  miles. 
Houses,  barns,  saw-mills  and  grist-mills  were  destroyed. 
He  also  says  that  there  were  burned  in  Guilford  four 
houses  and  five  barns,  in  Ripley  eleven  houses  and  nine 
barns,  in  Harmony  four  houses  and  five  bams,  in  Dover 
one  bam,  in  Monson  one  barn.  There  were  other  build- 
ings burned,  and  the  damage  to  the  timber  lands  was 
enormous. 

There  is  still  a  lingering  belief  in  the  minds  of  some 
of  the  citizens  of  the  counties  that  suffered  from  the 
ravages  of  the  fires  of  1825,  that  they  originated  from 
the  burning  of  hay  in  northern  Penobscot,  by  the  order 
of  the  State  Land  Agent,  to  cripple  the  operations  of 
the  plunderers  of  the  timber  lands  belonging  to  the 
State.  It  is  not  necessary  to  go  so  far  away  to  find  the 
origin  of  these  fires.  In  the  widespread  and  severe 
drouth  of  that  time,  the  necessary  conditions  for  start- 
ing fires  were  present  in  almost  every  town.  The  excep- 
tions were  towns  where  there  were  no  smouldering 
fires  to  be  fanned  into  furious  flames. 

Mr.  Loring,  a  participator  in  the  fight  against  the 
on-rushing  flames,  says  that  the  fire  had  marked  its  way 
from  Moosehead  Lake  across  the  county.  In  his  Annals 
of  Bangor,  Hon.  John  E.  Godfrey  says:  '*The  enemies 
of  the  land  agent  were  not  unwilling  that  he  should 
have  the  reputation  of  originating  the  fires  which  had 
caused  such  devastation  in  the  northerly  part  of  Penob- 
scot County,  when  he  caused  the  hay  cut  by  the  tres- 
passers to  be  burnt, ' '  and  adds  that  although  this  was 
not  the  case,  yet  the  Indians  had  been  impressed  with 
the  idea  that  it  was. 


HISTOEY    OF    OAKLAND,     MAINE  215 

The  town  of  Garland  was  on  the  line  of  the  advan- 
cing flames,  but  before  it  was  reached  the  wind  had  ceased, 
and  the  town  escaped  injury.  Nevertheless  its  inhabi- 
tants had  suffered  keenly  with  terror  and  anxiety. 


Garland  in  1826 

The  annual  town  meeting  of  1826  was  held  on  April 
6th.  Abraham  J.  Cox  was  chosen  moderator;  Reuben 
Bartlett,  town  clerk;  Reuben  Bartlett,  Isaac  Wheeler 
and  Ansel  Field,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Abraham  J. 
Cox,  treasurer,  and  Isaac  Wheeler,  Isaac  E.  Wilkins 
and  Ansel  Field,  superintending  school  committee. 
Walter  Holbrook  was  chosen  collector,  and  a  compensa- 
tion of  one  and  nine  tenths  per  cent,  voted  for  the 
service. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  for  the 
support  of  schools,  twelve  hundred  dollars  to  make  and 
repair  highways,  and  two  hundred  dollars  to  defray  town 
charges.  A  step  had  been  taken  in  1823  towards  the 
policy  of  requiring  taxes  to  be  paid  in  money.  With 
the  exception  of  that  year  all  taxes  but  highway  taxes, 
which  were  paid  in  labor,  had  been  paid  in  grain  at 
prices  determined  by  the  town  each  year.  In  1826,  and 
since,  taxes,  except  for  making  and  repairing  highways, 
have  been  paid  in  money.  The  town  voted  **that  the 
remaining  three  eighths  of  the  public  lands  be  divided 
between  the  religious  societies  which  have  not  received 
any,  according  to  their  numbers. " 

The  legal  voters  assembled  on  the  11th  day  of  Septem- 
ber to  vote  for  governor  and  other  officers. 

For    governor,    Enoch    Lincoln    received    twenty -six 


216  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

votes;    William    Godwin    received    six    votes;    Ezekiel 
Whitman  received  five  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  State  Legislature,  Reuben 
Bartlett  of  Garland  received  twenty-four  votes ;  Daniel 
Ladd  of  Garland  received  twenty-two  votes;  Lewis 
Goulding  of  Garland  received  one  vote. 

Enoch  Lincoln  was  elected  governor.  Winthrop 
Chapman  of  Exeter,  who  had  received  no  votes  in  Gar- 
land, was  elected  representative  to  the  State  Legislature. 

The  deaths  of  Thomas  Jefferson  and  John  Adams 
occurred  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1826.  The  news  of  the 
death  of  these  two  eminent  men  carried  sadness  into 
every  town,  village  and  hamlet  in  the  United  States. 
Both  had  participated  in  the  stirring  events  that  led  to 
the  Revolutionary  War.  Both  were  members  of  the 
convention  from  which  had  emanated  the  immortal 
Declaration  of  Independence,  embodying  truths  that 
have  given  the  people  of  this  country  the  best  govern- 
ment in  the  world,  and  that  are  destined  to  revolutionize 
all  other  governments.  Mr.  Adams  had  been  the  second 
and  Mr.  Jefferson  the  third  President  of  the  United 
States.  It  was  a  remarkable  coincidence  that  these  emi- 
nent men,  who  had  been  associated  in  establishing  the 
foundations  of  this  government,  and  of  administering  its 
affairs  in  turn,  should  die  on  the  same  day,  and  that  day, 
the  anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

The  voters  of  Garland  had  met  on  the  11th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1826,  to  ballot  for  a  representative  to  Con- 
gress. This  Congressional  district  embraced  the  counties 
of  Penobscot  and  Somerset.  The  territory  of  the  county 
of  Piscataquis  was  at  that  time  embraced  within  the  two 
counties  above  named.  There  having  been  no  choice  at 
this  trial,  another  trial  occurred  on  December  18,  1826, 
which,   like  the  first,   failed    to  elect.      The    third  trial 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  ^21 7 

occurred  on  the  second  of  April,  1827,  which  also  failed 
to  elect. 

At  the  present  time  we  hear  much  lamentation  over 
the  degeneracy  of  political  methods  and  practices. 
People  who  indulge  in  such  lamentations  would  do  well 
to  study  the  methods  and  practices  which  were  prevalent 
in  the  earlier  history  of  Maine. 

In  his  Annals  of  Bangor,  Judge  Godfrey  gives  us  some 
information  upon  this  matter.  Referring  to  the  aspirants 
for  Congressional  honors,  and  their  friends  in  this  Con- 
gressional district,  he  says :  '  'The  candidates  nominated 
by  conventions  and  individuals  were  respectable  men, 
but  it  mattered  not  who  were  the  candidates,  when  one 
obtained  sufficient  prominence,  he  was  pursued  by  the 
friends  of  the  others  with  a  bitterness  that  would  be 
hardly  excusable  in  savages.  Like  death  they  pursued 
the  shining  mark ;  no  matter  how  sensitive  the  subject 
or  how  pure  his  life,  if  there  were  the  least  flaw  in  the 
armor  of  his  character  it  was  found  and  pierced,  and 
reamed,  and  rasped,  until  it  would  seem  to  be  the  most 
rickety  and  unsubstantial  character  in  existence." 

He  also  says  that  Governor  Lincoln's  proclamation  in 
1827  for  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  might  well  have 
been  carefully  studied  by  the  politicians  of  the  time.  As 
the  sentiments  of  this  proclamation  are  good  for  all 
times,  an  extract  will  not  be  out  of  place  here.  "I 
recommend  to  every  one  to  observe  the  day  as  a  Christian ; 
if  he  be  under  the  influence  of  any  vice,  to  banish  it ;  if 
in  error,  to  correct  it;  if  under  obligations  to  others, 
honestly  to  discharge  them;  if  suff^ering  injuries,  to  for- 
give them;  if  aware  of  any  animosities,  to  extinguish 
them,  and  if  able  to  do  any  benevolent  act  to  any  being 
created  by  the  Almighty  power  to  which  he  owes  his 
existence  and  his  faculties,  to  do  it.  Especially  I 
recommend  that  being  members  of  one  great  community. 


218'  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

we  unite  as  Christian  politicians  so  that  we  may  render 
perpetual  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  our  country  and 
of  this  State." 

Although  there  has  been  a  manifest  improvement  in 
political  methods  and  practices  since  the  early  days  of 
Maine's  statehood,  there  is  still  left  a  wide  margin  for 
further  advancement  in  this  direction. 


Garland  in  1827 

The  year  1827  witnessed  a  continuation  of  the  contest 
for  a  representative  to  Congress.  There  had  been  three 
abortive  trials  to  elect.  The  fourth  trial  was  also  a 
failure.  Through  the  period  of  these  failures  to  elect, 
this  Congressional  district  was  without  representation  in 
Congress.  The  failures  were  due  to  the  manner  of  nomi- 
nating candidates. 

Small  coteries  of  men,  at  different  points  in  the  dis- 
trict, nominated  personal  friends  without  regard  to  the 
preference  of  the  voters  at  large.  To  such  an  extent 
was  this  practice  carried,  that  there  were  sometimes  from 
six  to  ten  candidates  for  Congressional  honors  before  the 
voters  of  the  district.  As  an  illustration,  at  the  third 
trial  of  the  protracted  contest  which  has  been  described, 
the  voters  of  Garland  distributed .  their  votes  to  seven 
different  candidates. 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  219 


Congressional  Convention 

After  repeated  failures  running  through  two  years, 
the  friends  of  the  administration  met  at  Garland  on  the 
sixteenth  day  of  August,  and  nominated  Samuel  Butman 
of  Dixmont  as  their  candidate  for  representative  to  Con- 
gress.     Mr.  Butman  was  the  successful  candidate. 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  was  held  on 
April  2.  The  officers  were  Walter  Holbrook,  moder- 
ator; Reuben  Bartlett,  town  clerk;  Reuben  Bartlett, 
Daniel  Ladd  and  Samuel  W.  Knight,  selectmen  and 
assessors;  Isaac  Wheeler,  treasurer,  and  Isaac  E. 
Wilkins,  Moses  Buswell  and  Isaac  Wheeler,  superin- 
tending school  committee.  William  Godwin  was  chosen 
collector  of  taxes,  and  his  compensation  was  fixed  at 
three  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  were  two  hundred  dollars  for  town 
charges,  fifteen  hundred  dollars  for  highways,  to  be  paid 
in  labor  at  twelve  and  one  half  cents  per  hour,  and  three 
hundred  dollars  for  schools. 


Fall  Election 

For  governor,  Enoch  Lincoln  received  twenty-seven 
votes;  William  Godwin  received  six  votes;  Ezekiel 
Whitman  received  three  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Reuben  Bartlett 
received  thirty-one  votes ;  Elijah  Skinner  received  three 
votes;  William  Eddy  received  three  votes;  David  A. 
Gove  received  one  vote. 


220  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

In  the  state  at  large,  Enoch  Lincoln  was  elected  gov- 
ernor.     Reuben  Bartlett  was  elected  to  the  Legislature. 

The  division  of  the  public  land  reserved  for  the  first 
settled  minister  became  the  occasion  of  considerable 
trouble  to  the  town,  and  perhaps  to  the  minister  as 
well.  The  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Wilkins  was  entitled  to  five 
eighths  of  this  land  by  virtue  of  an  agreement  with  the 
town,  but  no  division  between  the  contracting  parties 
had  been  made.  A  committee  had  been  appointed  to 
propose  a  division  of  the  land,  but  the  records  fail  to 
show  that  any  action  had  been  taken  by  the  committee. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Wilkins  was  authorized  to  select  a 
committee  for  this  service.  This  had  not  been  done. 
At  a  meeting  held  November  28th,  the  town  voted 
"that  Reuben  Bartlett,  Joseph  Prescott  and  Isaac 
Wheeler,  be  a  committee  to  make  application  to  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  a  committee  to  divide  the 
land  which  the  inhabitants  hold  in  common  with  the 
Rev.  Isaac  E.  Wilkins  unless  the  said  Wilkins  cause  it  to 
be  divided  immediately  by  virtue  of  a  vote  passed  Sep- 
tember 11,  1827." 


An  Early  Spring 

Samuel  P.  Sargent  is  authority  for  the  statement  that 
his  father,  Joseph  Sargent,  raised  the  barn  now  standing 
on  the  farm  of  James  Rideout,  on  the  ninth  of  April, 
1827,  and  that  Major  Merrill  had  a  team  plowing  on 
the  David  Allen  place  on  the  same  day. 

This  statement  respecting  the  earliness  of  the  season 
of  1827,  finds  confirmation  in  Judge  Godfrey's  Annals 
of  Bangor,  wherein  he  says  of  the  same  season,  that 
cucumbers  measuring  from  five  to  six  and  one  half  inches 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  221 

long  were  picked  in  Bangor  on  the  eleventh  of  June 
which  were  the  earliest  that  had  then  ever  been  raised  in 
the  country.  The  methods  of  forcing  the  growth  of 
vegetables  now  employed  were  not  in  use  then. 


Garland  in  1828 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1828,  held  March  31st, 
Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator ;  Reuben  Bartlett, 
town  clerk ;  Reuben  Bartlett,  Daniel  Ladd  and  Jeremiah 
Flanders,  selectmen  and  assessors;  William  Faii-field,  M. 
D. ,  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Wilkins  and  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq. ,  were 
chosen  superintending  school  committee.  Samuel  W. 
Knight  was  chosen  collector,  and  a  compensation  of  two 
and  seven  tenths  per  cent,  was  voted  for  the  service. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  fifteen  hundred  dollars  to 
make  and  repair  highways,  three  hundred  dollars  for  the 
support  of  schools  and  two  hundred  dollars  to  defray 
town  charges.  The  highway  tax  was  to  be  paid  in  labor 
for  which  men  and  oxen  were  to  be  allowed  twelve  and 
one  half  cents  per  hour  until  the  15th  of  September,  and 
eight  cents  on  and  after  that  date. 

Among  the  practices  of  the  earlier  years  of  the  town's 
history,  was  that  of  allowing  cattle  to  run  within  the 
limits  of  the  highways  for  pasturage.  This  practice 
was  an  ever  present  menace  to  the  growing  crops  which 
were  often  seriously  damaged  by  cattle  that  ran  at  large 
on  the  highways.  It  forced  the  farmers  to  build  and 
maintain  fences  between  their  growing  crops  and  the 
highway,  which  was,  perhaps,  the  most  serious  burden 
they  were  forced  to  confront.  It  led  to  disputes,  neigh- 
borhood quarrels  and  litigations. 


222 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


In  1828,  the  town  voted  "that  neat  cattle  be  prohib- 
ited from  going  at  large  from  the  first  day  of  June  to 
the  first  day  of  November,  1828."  Similar  action  was 
often  taken  by  the  town  in  subsequent  years  until  the 
State  made  it  the  duty  of  every  owner  of  stock  to  fence 
his  own  stock  in,  and  relieved  him  of  the  burden  of  fen- 
cing other  men's  stock  out.  As  the  result  of  this  policy, 
many  a  farmer  has  been  relieved  from  a  burdensome 
necessity,  and  the  aggregate  of  savings  has  run  largely 
into  the  thousands. 

On  the  8th  day  of  September,  1828,  the  legal  voters 
of  Garland  balloted  for  governor  and  other  officers. 

For  governor,  Enoch  Lincoln  received  twenty-nine 
votes;  Solomon  Parsons  received  twenty-four  votes; 
Daniel  Emery  received  fifteen  votes ;  William  Emerson 
received  one  vote. 

For  senator  to  State  Legislature,  Nathan  Herrick 
received  eighteen  votes ;  Reuben  Bartlett  received  seven- 
teen votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Samuel  Butman 
received  twenty -one  votes;  Samuel  Whitney  received 
seventeen  votes,  and  William  Emerson  received  one  vote. 

In  several  instances  the  successful  candidate  for  the 
Legislature  failed  to  get  a  single  vote  in  Garland.  This 
was  the  fact  in  1828.  Although  Winthrop  Chapman  of 
Exeter  failed  to  get  a  single  vote  in  Garland,  he  was  the 
successful  candidate.  Such  results  were  due  to  the  fact 
that  the  caucus  system  of  the  present  time  was  not  so 
fully  developed,  and  its  authority  not  so  fully  acknowl- 
edged then  as  now. 

In  the  presidential  election  of  1828,  Garland  gave  a 
small  majority  for  the  National  Republican  candidate, 
John  Quincy  Adams.  Andrew  Jackson,  the  Democratic 
candidate,  was  elected. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  223 


The  First  Cemetery 

In  1828  the  town  established  the  first  cemetery  within 
its  limits,  in  what  is  now  District  No.  7.  Its  location 
is  near  the  schoolhouse  in  that  district,  and  is  known  as 
the  Bumham  Cemetery.  Before  this,  the  dead  had  often 
been  buried  on  the  premises  of  relatives,  and  their 
graves  had  been  subject  to  neglect  and  desecration  when 
such  premises  changed  hands.  Walter  Holbrook,  Moses 
Gordon  and  Daniel  Ladd  were  appointed  to  inclose  the 
cemetery  and  superintend  the  removal  of  the  dead  from 
their  scattered  resting  places  thereto. 


Garland  in  1829 

The  annual  meeting  of  1829  was  held  on  March  30. 
Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator ;  Charles  Reynolds, 
town  clerk ;  Reuben  Bartlett,  Daniel  Ladd  and  Samuel 
W.  Knight,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Reuben  Bartlett, 
treasurer ;  Isaac  E.  Wilkins,  Reuben  Bartlett  and  Charles 
Reynolds,  superintending  school  committee.  Jeremiah 
Flanders  was  chosen  collector,  and  a  compensation  of 
two  and  nine  tenths  mills  voted  for  the  service. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  dollars  to  make 
and  repair  highways,  to  be  paid  in  labor  at  twelve  and 
one  half  cents  per  hour  for  men  and  oxen  until  Septem- 
ber 15,  and  eight  cents  after  that  date.  Three  hundred 
dollars  was  voted  for  the  support  of  schools  and  two 
hundred  dollars  to  defray  town  charges.  The  inhabit- 
ants were  forbidden  to  pasture  their  cattle  in  the  roads 
during  the  period  of  growing  crops. 


224  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  inhabitants  of  Garland  met  on  the  14th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1829,  to  provide  for  the  rebuilding  of  a  bridge 
across  the  neck  of  the  pond,  a  little  way  north  of  the 
village  mills.  A  contract  was  made  with  Daniel  Moore 
to  furnish  the  necessary  timber  for  the  bridge. 

The  legal  voters  assembled  on  September  14th  to  bal- 
lot for  governor  and  other  officers. 

For  governor,  Samuel  E.  Smith  received  forty  votes ; 
Jonathan  G.  Minturn  received  seventeen  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Reuben  Bartlett 
received  forty  votes;  Cornelius  Coolidge  received  twenty 
votes. 

The  political  canvass  of  1829  had  been  bitter,  and 
the  result  was  unsatisfactory  to  both  parties.  Mr. 
Hunton  was  elected  governor,  and  Mr.  Chapman  repre- 
sentative to  the  Legislature. 


The  Genesis  of  the  Temperance  Reform 

In  the  year  1828  or  1829,  Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  one  of 
Garland's  pioneers,  was  at  work  in  his  field,  on  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Foss  farm.  At  work  with  him,  was 
Joseph  True,  Jr.,  then  scarcely  more  than  a  boy.  On 
the  opposite  side  of  the  road  was  the  house  where  the 
Clark  family  now  resides,  which  was  then  occupied  by 
the  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Wilkins,  Garland's  first  settled 
minister. 

A  county  temperance  society  had  been  organized 
embracing  in  its  membership  some  of  the  most  prominent 
men  in  the  county.  The  subject  was  a  theme  for  dis- 
cussion in  many  of  the  towns.  Mr.  Wheeler  and  young 
Time  had  an  earnest  conversation  upon  the  subject  which 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  225 

resulted  in  their  going  to  Mr.  Wilkins  with  the  request 
that  he  would  write  a  pledge,  which  he  cheerfully  con- 
sented to  do.  The  three  men  signed  it  and  from  this 
transaction  emerged  Garland's  first  temperance  society. 


Review  of  Town's  Growth  From  1820  to  1830 

From  1820  to  1830  there  was  an  accession  to  the  town 
of  about  seventy  families.  Among  these  were  the  fami- 
lies of  Reuben  Bartlett,  Abraham  True,  Joseph  True, 
Sr.,  Joseph  Prescott,  Joseph  Sargent,  Dr.  Seth  Fogg, 
Benjamin  Pressey,  Rufus  Inman,  Thomas  B.  Saunders, 
Walter  Holbrook,  Samuel  Warren,  William  Warren, 
William  Mansfield,  Ansel  Field,  Samuel  W.  Knight, 
Zebulon  Knight,  Daniel  Ladd,  Jeremiah  Ladd,  William 
Buswell,  M.  D.,  Asa  W.  Soule,  Gains  Soule,  Lewis 
Soule,  Haskell  Besse,  James  Powers,  Leonard  Leland, 
John  Davis,  James  Bobbins,  William  Soule,  Gideon 
Soule,  David  Soule,  John  Soule,  Gilbert  Wallace,  Enoch 
RoUins,  John  Hamilton,  Joseph  Strout,  Joseph  Johnson, 
John  Johnson,  Israel  Colley,  Lewis  Goulding,  Amos 
Higgins,  William  Doble,'  William  Sargent,  David 
Sargent,  Aaron  Hill,  Elisha  Nye,  Rufus  Soule,  Phineas 
Batchelder,  John  H.  Batchelder,  Mason  Skinner,  James 
March,  Jacob  Quimby,  Samuel  Greeley,  John  E.  Ladd, 
James  Parker,  George  Curtis,  Russell  Murdock,  Isaac  E. 
Wilkins,  William  Fairfield,  M.  D.,  Herbert  Thorndike, 
William  Rollins,  Fifield  Lyford,  David  M.  Greeley, 
Eben  Battles,  Seth  Smith,  Isaiah  Stillings,  Eliab 
Stewart,  Andrew  Smith,  David  Moore,  James  Holbrook, 
Benjamin  Mayo. 

A  few  of  the  above  names  are  those  of  young  men 


226  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

who  were  not  heads  of  families  previous  to  1830,  but 
became  so  after  that  date.  The  population  of  Garland 
in  1830  was  six  hundred  and  twenty-one,  an  increase  of 
three  hundred  and  forty -six  in  ten  years.  There  were 
but  few  events  in  the  period  under  review  worthy  of 
special  notice. 

The  town  had  enjoyed  a  happy  exemption  from  the 
remarkable  discouragements  and  hardships  that  had  char- 
acterized its  earlier  history.  The  allegiance  of  its  citi- 
zens had  been  transferred  from  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  to  the  State  of  Maine.  The  town  had 
settled  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Wilkins  as  its  first  minister.  The 
Free  Will  Baptist  church  had  been  organized  in  1825. 
Several  school  districts  had  been  established,  and  the 
advantages  for  instruction  of  persons  of  school  age 
extended.  The  policy  of  paying  taxes,  excepting  high- 
way taxes,  in  money  had  been  established,  indicating 
that  this  convenience  of  civilization  was  becoming  more 
abundant.  Roads  had  been  improved  and  extended. 
The  crops  had  generally  been  good,  and  the  people  had 
been  fairly  prosperous. 


Garland  in  1830 

The  town  officers  of  1830  were  Joseph  Prescott, 
moderator;  Charles  Reynolds,  town  clerk;  Reuben 
Bartlett,  Samuel  W.  Knight  and  Jeremiah  Flanders, 
selectmen  and  assessors;  Reuben  Bartlett,  treasurer; 
Ezekiel  Straw,  collector,  at  a  compensation  of  one  and 
three-fourths  per  cent. ;  Isaac  E.  Wilkins,  Charles 
Reynolds  and  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  superintending  school 
committee. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  227 

It  was  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  dollars  for  high- 
ways, three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  schools  and 
fifty-five  dollars  for  town  charges.  Men  and  oxen  were 
to  be  allowed  twelve  and  one  half  cents  per  hour  for 
labor  on  the  roads  until  September  15,  and  eight  cents 
per  hour  thereafter. 

Charles  Reynolds,  town  clerk,  having  been  notified  by 
Zenas  Flanders,  field  driver,  that  damage  had  been  done 
to  the  crops  of  Gideon  Soule  by  two  chestnut  colored 
horses,  and  two  red  yearling  colts  that  had  been  taken  up 
and  impounded,  a  warrant  was  issued  to  James  Dinsmore 
and  George  Curtis,  dated  August  1,  1830,  to  proceed  at 
once  to  the  estimation  of  the  damage  to  said  crops. 
The  amount  returned  for  damages  was  fifty  cents.  Pro- 
ceedings of  this  kind  were  a  feature  of  that  period. 
Sometimes  they  originated  in  a  spirit  of  spite,  but  were 
intended  to  protect  the  inhabitants  from  damage  to 
their  crops. 

On  September  18,  1830,  the  town  balloted  for  gov- 
ernor, representative  to  Congress,  representative  to  the 
Legislature,  and  other  officers. 

For  governor,  Jonathan  G.  Hunton  received  thirty-two 
votes;  J.  G.  Hunton  received  two  votes;  Samuel  E. 
Smith  received  sixty-seven  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Ebenezer  S.  Philips 
received  thirty-one  votes ;  James  Bates  received  sixty-six 
votes. 

For  representative  to  Legislature,  Reuben  Bartlett 
received  sixty-five  votes ;  R.  Barllett  received  five  votes ; 
John  Bates  received  thirty-three  votes;  John  Wilkins 
received  one  vote. 

Samuel  E.  Smith  was  elected  governor,  James  Bates 
representative  to  Congress  and  Winthrop  Chapman 
representative  to  the  Legislature.  On  the  same  day, 
September  13,   the  second  public   cemetery    was  estab- 


228  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     IlIAINE 

lished.      It  was  located  in  the  northwesterly  part  of  the 
town,  and  is  known  as  the  Greeley  Cemetery. 

Action  was  taken  to  have  it  properly  fenced,  and  the 
scattered  dead  in  that  part  of  the  town  removed  to  it. 
A  bridge  was  built  across  the  neck  of  the  pond,  just 
north  of  the  village  grist-mill,  in  1830  or  1831.  The 
timber  for  this  bridge  was  furnished  by  Daniel  Moore,  a 
citizen  of  the  town. 


Increasing  Prosperity 

From  1820  to  1830  the  inhabitants  of  Garland,  being 
at  a  remove  of  several  years  from  the  depressing  influ- 
ences of  the  w^ar  that  terminated  in  1814,  and  of  the 
almost  total  destruction  of  their  crops  in  1816,  began 
to  exhibit  new  indications  of  prosperity.  This  was 
noticeable  in  the  building  of  larger  and  more  convenient 
dwellings.  Philip  Greeley  built  a  two-story  dwelling 
soon  after  1820,  upon  the  estate  in  District  No.  1,  now 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  William  B.  Foss. 

In  1822,  Jeremiah  Flanders  built  the  dwelling  now 
occupied  by  Edwin  Preble.  William  Godwin  built  a  two- 
story  dwelling  about  the  year  1822,  upon  the  site  now 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  William  H.  Knight.  It 
was  built  for  a  tavern  when  the  teaming  back  and  forth 
from  western  Piscataquis  passed  the  site  of  this  house. 
The  Penobscot  Masonic  Lodge  was  organized  and  had 
its  headquarters  here  for  several  years. 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  229 


Garland  in  1831 

The  annual  town  meeting  was  held  on  April  11th. 
Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator ;  Charles  Reynolds, 
town  clerk;  Reuben  Bartlett,  Charles  Reynolds  and 
Samuel  W.  Knight,  selectmen ;  Charles  Reynolds,  Daniel 
M.  Haskell  and  Enoch  M.  Barker,  M.  D. ,  superintending 
school  committee,  and  Reuben  Bartlett,  treasurer. 
William  God^vin  was  chosen  collector,  and  his  compen- 
sation was  fixed  at  two  per  cent. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
to  make  and  repair  highways,  and  to  allow  men  and  oxen 
twelve  and  one  half  cents  per  hour  until  October  1st, 
three  hundred  dollars  for  the  support  of  schools,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  defray  town  charges  and 
thirty-five  dollars  for  the  support  of  the  poor.  This 
was  the  first  action  taken  by  the  town  in  aid  of  the  poor. 

Neat  stock  was  prohibited  from  running  in  the  roads 
during  the  period  of  growing  crops. 

The  legal  voters  assembled  September  12,  1881,  to 
ballot  for  governor  and  other  officers. 

Samuel  E.  Smith  received  fifty-two  votes  for  governor; 
Daniel  Goodenow  received  forty-four  votes  for  governor. 

Samuel  E.  Smith,  the  Democratic  candidate,  was 
elected  governor.  Winthrop  Chapman  of  Exeter,  who 
failed  to  get  a  single  vote  in  Garland,  was  elected  repre- 
sentative to  the  Legislature. 


An  Abundant  Crop  of  Corn 

The  year  1831   was  characterized  by  a  large  yield  of 
corn.      It   is  doubtful  if   any  season  since  has  been  so 


230  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


favorable  to  the  growth  of  that  crop.  For  several 
seasons  following  1831,  corn  was  a  very  uncertain  crop, 
owing  to  the  recurrence  of  early  frosts  which  arrested  its 
growth,  and  prevented  its  ripening.  Years  later,  it  was 
found  that  a  careful  preparation  of  the  soil  and  selection 
of  seed  was  generally  followed  by  a  good  yield. 


Garland  in  1832 

The  first  town  meeting  of  1832  was  of  early  occur- 
rence. Reuben  Bartlett,  owner  of  the  mill  property  in 
the  village,  contemplated  building  a  new  grist-mill. 
This  plan,  if  carried  out,  would  benefit  the  surrounding 
community.  It  was,  therefore,  regarded  with  favor  by 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town.  It  was  his  purpose  to 
increase  the  height  of  his  dam  to  secure  a  larger  and 
more  abundant  supply  of  water.  This  would  enlarge 
the  area  of  flowage.  Two  citizens  of  the  town,  who 
owned  land  on  the  shore  of  the  pond,  threatened  suits 
for  damage  in  case  the  dam  should  be  raised.  Mr. 
Bartlett,  who  had  no  fears  of  having  to  pay  damage, 
was  conscious  of  the  fact  that  large  bills  for  costs  might 
be  incurred  in  defense  of  threatened  suits. 

A  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  was  held 
January  28,  1832,  when  it  was  voted  '*to  pay  all  bills  of 
costs  that  Reuben  Bartlett,  his  heirs  or  assigns,  may 
have  to  pay  in  defending  any  that  may  be  prosecuted 
against  him  for  flowing  land  necessary  to  the  operation 
of  his  mills,  provided  the  said  Bartlett  shall  erect  a  good 
grist-mill  as  soon  as  may  be,  the  damage  to  flowed  lands, 
if  any  there  be,  to  be  paid  by  said  Bartlett. ' '  No  action 
for  damage  was  ever  begun. 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  231 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  183J2,  held  March  19, 
Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator ;  Charles  Reynolds, 
town  clerk;  Reuben  Bartlett,  Benjamin  H.  Oak  and 
Daniel  M.  Haskell,  selectmen  and  assessors ;  Reuben 
Bartlett,  treasurer;  Abraham  True,  collector,  compen- 
sation two  per  cent. ,  and  E.  M.  Barker,  Charles  Reynolds 
and  D.  M.  Haskell,  superintending  school  committee. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  dollars  for  high- 
ways, men,  oxen  and  plows  to  be  paid  twelve  and  one 
half  cents  per  hour,  and  not  to  be  allowed  more  than 
twelve  hours  for  any  single  day's  work.  It  was  voted 
to  raise  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  support 
of  schools,  and  one  hundred  dollars  to  defray  town 
charges.  It  was  voted  that  the  annual  town  meetings 
thereafter  should  be  held  on  the  second  Monday  in 
March. 

The  meeting  to  ballot  for  governor  and  other  officers 
was  held  September  10,  1832,  when  Samuel  E.  Smith 
received  fifty-six  votes  for  governor;  Daniel  Goodenow 
received  fifty-eight  votes  for  governor;  Reuben  Bartlett 
received  fifty-five  votes  for  representative  to  the  Legis- 
lature; Russell  Kitridge  received  fifty-eight  votes  for 
representative  to  the  Legislature. 

Samuel  E.  Smith  was  elected  governor,  Reuben 
Bartlett,  representative  to  the  Legislature. 

The  presidential  election  of  1832  occurred  on  the  fifth 
of  November.  Henry  Clay  was  the  Whig  candidate  and 
Andrew  Jackson  was  the  Democratic  candidate.  The 
Whig  candidates  for  electors  received  fifty-six  votes,  and 
the  Democratic  candidates  received  sixty-seven  votes. 

A  business  meeting  was  held  on  the  day  of  the  presi- 
dential election,  at  which  the  town  voted  to  appropriate 
the  ministerial  lands  in  the  town  of  Garland  to  the  use 
of  primary  schools.  In  his  Annals  of  Bangor,  Judge 
Godfrey  says  of  the  season  of  1832 — *'The  spring  was 


232  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

cold  this  year.      Fires  were  comfortable  up  to,  and  into 
June." 


Garland  in  1833 

In  1833,  the  annual  town  meeting  was  held  March 
11th.  Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator;  Charles 
Reynolds,  town  clerk;  Reuben  Bartlett,  Benjamin  H. 
Oak,  and  Charles  Reynolds,  selectmen  and  assessors; 
Reuben  Bartlett,  treasurer;  Charles  Reynolds,  Alphonzo 
Adams  and  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  superintending  school 
committee.  Abraham  True  was  chosen  collector  and  the 
compensation  was  fixed  at  two  per  cent. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  to 
build  and  repair  highways,  and  to  allow  twelve  and  one 
half  cents  per  hour  for  the  labor  of  men  and  oxen  until 
the  15th  of  September,  and  eight  cents  per  hour  until 
the  opening  of  winter,  when  twelve  and  one  half  cents 
was  to  be  paid  for  the  labor  of  men  and  oxen.  The 
sum  of  four  hundred  dollars  was  voted  for  the  support 
of  schools,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  defray  town 
charges  and  thirty  dollars  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

The  legal  voters  assembled  on  September  9th  to  ballot 
for  governor,  representative  to  Congress,  representative 
to  the  Legislature  and  other  officers. 

Robert  P.  Dunlap,  Democrat,  received  seventy-six 
votes  for  governor;  Daniel  Goodenow,  Whig,  received 
thirty-one  votes  for  governor. 

Gorham  Parks,  Democrat,  received  seventy-six  votes 
for  representative  to  Congress;  Ebenezer  Hutchinson, 
Whig,  received  thirty-one  votes  for  representative  to 
Congress. 

Joseph  Bridgham,  Democrat,  received  seventy-six 
votes  for  representative  to  the  Legislature,  and  Russell 


HISTORY    OF    OAKLAND,     MAINE 

Kitridge,  Whig,  received  thirty-two  votes  for  the  same 
office.  Mr.  Dunlap  was  the  successftil  candidate  for 
governor. 

The  town  refused  to  grant  licenses  to  sell  spirituous 
liquors  to  be  drank  in  the  stores  and  shops  of  retailers. 

The  lower  road  from  West  Garland  to  Dexter,  near 
the  north  shore  of  Pleasant  Pond,  was  laid  out  in  1833. 
The  section  of  the  county  road  leading  from  Dover  to 
Dexter,  across  the  northwest  corner  of  Garland,  was 
made  in  1833.  The  section  from  Dover  line  to  Main 
Stream  was  made  by  James  J.  Chandler  and  Jacob 
Greeley  at  eighty  cents  per  rod.  The  section  from  Main 
Stream  to  Dexter  line,  was  made  by  Thomas  M.  and 
William  A.  Murray  at  eighty-two  cents  per  rod. 


Garland  in  1834 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  in  1834,  held 
March  11,  Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator; 
Charles  Reynolds,  town  clerk ;  Reuben  Bartlett,  Benjamin 
H.  Oak  and  Charles  Reynolds,  selectmen  and  assessors; 
Reuben  Bartlett,  treasurer;  Charles  Reynolds,  Alphonzo 
Adams  and  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  superintending  school 
committee;  James  J.  Chandler,  collector,  at  two  and 
one  half  per  cent. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  dollars  for  high- 
ways, three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  schools,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  town  charges,  thirty 
dollars  for  the  support  of  the  poor,  sixty  dollars  to  com- 
plete the  northwest  county  road,  and  to  allow  the  same 
price  as  last  year  for  men,  oxen  and  the  use  of  tools. 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  September  8, 
1834,  to  ballot  for  governor  and  other  officers. 


234  HISTOEY    OF    GAEL  AND,    MAINE 

For  governor,  Robert  P.  Dunlap  received  ninety -nine 
votes;  Peleg  Sprague  received  sixty-one  votes  and 
Thomas  A.  Hill  received  four  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Gorham  Parks  received 
ninety-nine  votes ;  Edward  Kent  received  sixty-three 
votes. 

For  senators,  Reuben  Bartlett,  Democrat,  received 
ninety-one  votes;  Ira  Fish,  Democrat,  received  ninety- 
eight  votes;  Waldo  T.  Pierce,  Whig,  received  sixty-one 
votes;  Richard  H.  Rice,  Whig,  received  sixty-one  votes. 

For  representative  to  Legislature,  William  Hutchins 
received  ninety-nine  votes;  Jefferson  Gushing  received 
sixty- three  votes. 

The  majorities  for  the  Democratic  candidates  in  1834 
were  larger  than  usual. 


A  Business  Center 

The  locality  of  Bangor  at  the  head  of  navigation  of 
Maine's  largest  river,  and  at  a  central  point  of  one  of 
its  best  agricultural  regions,  made  it  a  place  of  great 
importance  to  the  inhabitants  of  many  of  the  surround- 
ing towns.  After  recovering  from  the  effects  of  the 
War  of  1812,  and  the  disastrous  results  of  the  cold 
season  of  1816,  its  growth  was  rapid.  Here,  the  farmers 
of  a  larger  region,  including  the  counties  of  Penobscot, 
Piscataquis  and  sections  of  Somerset,  found  a  market 
for  their  surplus  crops.  It  became  the  largest  lumber 
market  in  the  world.  The  manufacture  of  shingles  by 
hand  in  the  country  towns  in  winter  was  an  industry  of 
considerable  importance.  The  farmers  could  make  a 
few  thousand  of  shingles,  without  interference  with  their 
regular  farm  work,  which  would  always  bring  money  in 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  235 

Bangor  in  the  latter  part  of  winter  and  spring.  The 
bright  light  of  burning  shavings  from  the  "shingle 
weaver's  camp"  through  the  long  winter  evenings  was  a 
feature  of  the  times. 

Any  change  of  conditions  that  contributed  to  the 
growth  and  increase  of  business  in  Bangor  was  of 
advantage  to  the  towns  around  it.  The  business  rela- 
tions of  Bangor  with  Boston  were  important.  Previous 
to  1834,  the  transportation  of  merchandise  and  passen- 
gers between  the  two  places  was  through  the  medium  of 
sailing  vessels.  The  time  required  for  the  trips  of  the 
vessels  was  always  uncertain,  and  often  protracted. 

In  1834,  the  steamer  Bangor,  which  has  since  become 
historic,  was  built  and  placed  on  the  route  between  Ban- 
gor and  Boston  to  carry  passengers  and  freight.  The 
merchant  who  now  went  to  Boston  for  the  purchase  of 
goods,  could  determine  with  proximate  certainty  the 
time  of  his  return  with  such  merchandise  as  was  immed- 
iately wanted.  The  successful  accomplishment  of  this 
new  enterprise  was  of  advantage  to  the  business  men  of 
the  country  towns  as  well  as  to  those  of  Bangor.  It 
opened  new  markets  to  the  farmers  and  manufacturers  of 
central  Maine. 


The  Hop  Industry 

The  cultivation  of  hops  for  the  market  had  become  an 
industry  of  some  importance  in  a  few  of  the  towns 
adjoining  Garland.  The  picking,  curing  and  packing 
the  hops  had  given  employment  to  troops  of  girls  and 
boys  during  the  harvest  season  as  well  as  profit  to  the 
farmers.      In  1834,  Honorable  Reuben  Bartlett  provided 


236  HISTOEY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

the  necessary  building  and  fixtures  for  curing  and  pack- 
ing. Thus  encouraged,  a  number  of  the  farmers  turned 
their  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  hops.  The  business 
in  this  section  was  soon  overdone ;  the  price  of  hops  fell, 
and  the  hop  industry  was  abandoned. 


Garland  in  1835 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  1835,  held  March 
9th,  Bildad  A.  Haskell  was  chosen  moderator;  Charles 
Reynolds,  town  clerk;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  David  Pierce 
and  Bildad  A.  Haskell,  selectmen  and  assessors ;  Reuben 
Bartlett,  treasurer;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Enoch  Hunting- 
ton and  Alphonzo  Adams,  superintending  school  com- 
mittee. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  for  making  and  mending  roads,  three  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  for  schools,  three  hundred  dollars  for 
town  charges,  fifty  dollars  to  support  the  poor  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty -five  dollars  towards  making  the 
section  of  the  county  road,  running  in  a  northwesterly 
direction  from  a  point  a  few  rods  south  of  the  residence 
of  Benjamin  True,  by  the  site  of  the  schoolhouse  in 
District  No.  10,  and  the  residence  of  Henry  Merrill,  to 
the  point  of  divergence  of  the  original  route  from  the 
Sangerville  road. 

It  will  be  difficult  for  later  generations  to  realize  that 
the  travel  and  heavy  transportation  each  way  between 
Bangor  and  western  Piscataquis,  including  the  towns  of 
Abbot,  Guilford  and  Sangerville,  previous  to  the  year 
1836,  passed  over  the  circuitous  and  hilly  route  leading 
by  the  schoolhouse  in  District  No.  1,  and  Maple  Grove 
Cemetery,  to  the  center  of  Garland  village. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  237 


An  Irate  Citizen 

In  the  year  1817,  the  route  for  a  county  road  to 
extend  from  Bangor  to  what  is  now  western  Piscataquis 
through  the  town  of  Garland  having  been  established, 
the  town  commenced  making  its  section  of  the  road. 
Philip  Greeley  and  William  Godwin  were  a  committee 
to  take  charge  of  the  work.  Mr.  Godwin  was,  at  this 
time,  the  owner  of  a  tavern  stand  on  the  site  now  occu- 
pied by  the  buildings  of  the  late  William  H.  Knight, 
opposite  the  site  of  the  Maple  Grove  Cemetery. 

The  route  as  established  would  carry  the  travel  about 
forty  rods  east  of  this  tavern  stand,  thereby  depriving 
Mr.  Godwin  of  patronage.  A  slight  change  of  route  to 
accommodate  Mr.  Godwin  was  willingly  made  by  the 
committee.  In  1834,  a  change  was  made  in  the  route 
which  diverted  the  travel  from  western  Piscattquis 
from  Mr.  Godwin's  tavern  stand.  Mr.  Godwin  was 
greatly  exasperated  by  this  change  and,  as  a  measure  of 
revenge,  blocked  up  the  section  of  road  which  had  been 
illegally  made  across  his  land  at  his  own  request. 

Several  young  men  living  in  the  vicinity,  willing  to 
annoy  an  unpopular  citizen,  cleared  the  road  on  the  fol- 
lowing night.  Large  logs  were  hauled  across  the  road 
the  next  day  and  removed  at  night.  This  procedure 
was  repeated  until  Mr.  Godwin  and  his  grown-up  sons 
threatened  to  arm  themselves  and  shoot  the  intruders, 
whereupon  the  selectmen  of  the  town  assumed  the  offen- 
sive, and  brought  a  suit  against  Mr.  Godwin  for  thus 
interrupting  the  local  travel  on  a  road  which  was  much 
used  by  families  living  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town. 

The  decision  was  against  Mr.  Godwin,  and  he  found 
himself  in  debt  of  inconvenient  dimensions  incurred  by 
the  trial.      But  this  was  not  to  him  the  most  mortifying 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

feature  in  the  case.  He  was  brought  face  to  face  with 
the  necessity  of  taking  a  contract  in  the  making  of  the 
obnoxious  road  to  secure  money  to  pay  in  part  the  costs 
of  defense. 

The  town  initiated  the  policy  of  allowing  each  school 
district  to  choose  its  own  agent  in  1835.  It  also 
instructed  the  selectmen  to  make  lists  of  the  scholars 
in  the  several  districts. 


Division  of  the  Ministerial  Fund 

The  question  of  an  equitable  division  of  the  fund 
derived  from  the  sale  of  the  ministerial  lands,  among  the 
several  religious  societies,  became  the  occasion  of  a  some- 
what acrimonious  contention.  At  the  annual  meeting 
of  1835,  it  was  voted  to  submit  the  matters  in  dispute  to 
two  disinterested  men ;  one  of  them  should  be  named  by 
the  town,  and  the  other  by  a  representative  of  the  sev- 
eral religious  societies. 

Judge  Seba  French,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Dexter, 
was  chosen  on  the  part  of  the  town,  and  John  B.  Hill, 
Esquire,  of  Exeter,  afterwards  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
Bangor,  was  chosen  to  act  for  the  religious  societies. 
Benjamin  H.  Oak  was  appointed  to  present  the  case  in 
behalf  of  the  town,  and  Elder  Josiah  Bartlett  presented 
the  case  of  the  religious  societies.  A  list  of  the  male 
members  of  each  society  had  been  made  by  its  clerk  in 
1829  and  entered  upon  the  town  records. 

The  names  upon  the  Free  Will  Baptist  list  numbered 
forty-two  and  were: 

John  Page,  Jacob  Quimby, 

Josiah  Bartlett,  James  Powers, 

Amos  Higgins,  William  Soule, 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


239 


Daniel  Ladd, 
Enoch  Clough, 
Enoch  Rollins, 
Asa  Soule, 
Mason  Skinner, 
Lewis  Soule, 
John  Hamilton, 
Joseph  Strout, 
Eliab  Stewart, 
David  Burton, 
Warner  Taylor, 
Samuel  W.  Knight, 
Zebulon  Knight, 
John  Trefethen, 
Henry  Amazeen, 
Cutteon  F.  Flanders, 
James  J.  Chandler, 
Rufus  Inman, 


John  E.  Ladd, 
Jacob  Staples, 
Benjamin  Mayo, 
Isaiah  Stillings, 
David  Soule, 
Gideon  Soule, 
Israel  Colley, 
Fifield  Lyford, 
Isaac  F.  Ladd, 
John  Batchelder, 
William  Rollins, 
Benjamin  Page, 
John  Soule, 
John  B.  Stevens, 
William  Ladd, 
Nathaniel  Emerson, 
Hiram  Lyford, 
Jeremiah  I^d. 


Names  on  Congregational  list  numbered  twenty-four : 


Isaac  Wheeler, 
Joseph  True, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
Levi  Johnson, 
Lewis  Goulding, 
Joseph  True,  Jr., 
Ansel  Field, 
James  Parker, 
George  Curtis, 
Abraham  True, 
Charles  Reynolds, 
Russell  Murdock, 


Daniel  M.  Haskell, 
Justus  Harriman, 
David  Fogg, 
Jacob  Greeley, 
Aaron  Hill, 
John  S.  Haskell, 
Herbert  Thomdike, 
Walter  Holbrook, 
Bray  Wilkins, 
John  S,  Fogg, 
William  Godwin, 
Samuel  Greeley. 


Universalists  numbered  nineteen : 
Ezekiel  Straw,  Zenas  Flanders, 

Bildad  A.  Haskell,  Reuben  Bartlett, 

Jeremiah  Ilanders,  Moses  Gordon, 


240  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Joshua  Silver,  Moses  Buswell, 

Reuben  Marrow,  Daniel  Moore, 

Edward  Fifield,  John  Hayes, 

Samuel  P.  Buswell,  Jesse  Straw, 

Solomon  Soule,  Amos  G.  Gordon, 

James  Dinsmore,  John  Chandler, 

Eben  Battles. 

The  Calvinist  Baptists  numbered  thirteen : 
Thomas  S.  Tyler,  John  Jackman, 

HoUis  Mansfield,  Amos  Gordon, 

James  March,  Samuel  Mansfield, 

Joseph  Sargent,  Robert  Seward, 

Joseph  Prescott,  Benjamin  Mayo, 

George  W.  Gordon,  Shepherd  Packard, 

Jonathan  L.  Haskell. 

The  town  records  do  not  show  what  the  action  of  the 
referees  was  in  relation  to  the  distribution  of  the  minis- 
terial fund  in  1835.  There  being  no  reference  to  it 
after  this  date,  shows  that  their  decision  was  regarded  as 
final. 


The  Aid  of  the  Town  to  Some  of  Its  Poorer 
Citizens 

There  were  industrious  citizens  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Garland  who  were  still  owing  balances  to  the 
original  proprietors  of  the  township  for  their  lands. 
By  dint  of  persevering  industry,  they  had  cleared  lands, 
erected  buildings,  and  made  improvements.  All  these 
things  they  had  done  through  years  of  toil  with  the  use 
of  little  money,  but  the  debts  they  owed  for  their  lands 
must  be  paid  in  money  or  its  equivalent.  They  were 
forced  to  turn  over   their   cattle  to  their   creditors  at 


HISTORY    OF    6ABLAND,     MAINE  241 

prices  merely  nominal  to  pay  the  interest  on  their  debts. 
Some  of  our  older  citizens  will  remember  the  droves  of 
cattle  that  were  collected  from  year  to  year  in  this,  and 
neighboring  towns,  and  driven  to  Massachusetts  to  pay 
these  interest  debts. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  April  18,  1835,  the  town 
voted  to  raise  one  hundred  dollars  to  pay  the  balance  due 
Calvin  Sanger,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
township,  by  David  Soule.  By  this  generous  act  of  the 
town,  the  home  of  Mr.  Soule  was  saved  to  himself  and 
family. 


Tragic  Death  of  a  Prominent  Citizen 

Early  in  the  morning  of  July  3,  1835,  the  Hon. 
Reuben  Bartlett  called  his  son  Joseph,  afterward  editor 
of  the  Bangor  Jeffersonian,  to  assist  in  starting  some 
logs  down  the  slope  towards  the  saw-mill.  Going 
directly  to  the  mill,  and  starting  a  log  downward  toward 
the  mill,  he  lost  his  balance  and  fell  across  it,  when  his 
coat  sleeve  was  caught  by  a  sharp  knot,  and  he  was 
thrown  violently  over  and  almost  instantly  killed  by  the 
rolling  log.  Joseph  reached  the  mill  yard  just  in  season 
to  witness  the  terrible  accident. 

Mr.  Bartlett  emigrated  from  Nottingham,  N.  H. ,  in 
1820,  having  purchased  the  village  mill  property  of 
Mr.  Church.  He  was  an  energetic,  enterprising  and  use- 
ful citizen.  His  mental  qualities,  and  his  experience  in 
municipal  affairs  fitted  him  for  leadership,  and  he  became 
the  leading  citizen  of  the  town  from  the  first  year  of  his 
residence  in  it. 

In  his  first  year  here,  he  was  chosen  chairman  of  an 
important  committee,  and  the  records  show  that  he  filled 


242  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

one  or  more  important  offices  each  year  during  his  fifteen 
years  of  residence  in  town.  He  was  several  times  elected 
to  one  or  the  other  branches  of  the  State  Legislature. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Bartlett  was  an  earnest  and  unwaver- 
ing Democrat.  During  his  residence  here  of  fifteen 
years,  there  were  no  defections  in  the  Democratic  ranks. 
As  an  able  and  wise  counsellor,  he  was  held  in  high 
esteem,  and  his  death  cast  a  gloom  over  the  entire  town. 


An  Important  Road  Contemplated 

A  geographical  chart  of  the  District  of  Maine,  pub- 
lished in  1816,  showed  existing  roads  within  the  Province 
of  Maine,  also  routes  for  roads  that  would  be  needed  to 
meet  the  wants  of  advancing  population.  One  of  these 
routes  extended  from  Bangor  through  the  towns  of  Glen- 
burn,  Levant,  Exeter,  Garland,  Dexter,  Sanger ville, 
Guilford  and  Monson  to  Moosehead  Lake,  thence  to 
the  Canadian  line. 

It  was  expected  that  this  road  would  be  opened  by  the 
proprietors  of  lands  upon  the  route,  and  that  it  would 
prove  of  more  importance  than  any  other  road  in  this 
section  of  Maine.  But  through  the  pressure  of  the 
need  of  roads  to  accommodate  a  more  limited  area,  this 
larger  scheme  was  held  in  abeyance  until  1835. 

In  1835,  a  petition  numerously  signed,  asked  for  a 
road,  to  be  known  as  the  Avenue  Road,  extending  from 
Bangor  to  Moosehead  Lake,  through  central  Penobscot 
and  western  Piscataquis.  This  appears  to  have  been  a 
renewal  of  the  old  scheme  of  1816.  Garland  had  been 
heavily  burdened  with  building  roads.  At  a  special 
meeting  held  September  24,  1835,  the  town  appointed 
Moses  Gordon,  Ezekiel  Straw,  Bildad  A.  Haskell,  James 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  243 

J.  Chandler  and  Daniel  M.  Haskell  to  appear  before 
the  commissioners  in  opposition  to  the  road.  The  oppo- 
sition proved  unavailing.  The  road  was  located  and 
subsequently  made. 


The  First  Meeting  House  in  Garland 

Preliminary  measures  for  the  building  of  a  meeting 
house  by  the  Congregational  parish  of  Garland  were 
entered  upon  in  1835.  The  parish  was  small  and  of 
limited  resources.  How  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  was 
a  perplexing  question.'  But  inspired  by  the  faith  of 
that  veteran  pioneer  missionary,  the  Rev.  John  Sawyer, 
through  whose  efforts  the  Congregational  church  had 
been  brought  into  existence  twenty-five  years  earlier,  the 
parish  reached  the  decision  to  build. 

By  the  friendly  aid  of  Charles  P.  Chandler,  Esq., 
of  Foxcroft,  an  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained  from 
the  Legislature,  under  which  a  company  was  formed 
with  the  title  of  "The  Congregational  Meeting  House 
Company  of  Garland."  A  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  adopted  which  provided  that  the  stock  should  be 
divided  into  twenty-four  shares  of  fifty  dollars  each,  and 
that  when  eighteen  shares  had  been  taken,  the  site  of 
the  buildings  should  be  determined,  and  the  work  of  con- 
struction entered  upon. 

There  was  considerable  discussion  respecting  size  and 
style  of  the  building.  All  the  members  of  the  company 
were  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  economy  of  expendi- 
ture. Some  favored  a  plain  building,  bare  of  belfry  and 
steeple.  Others  expressed  a  different  opinion.  Lewis 
Goulding,  a  member  of  the  church,  who  was  always 
ready  with  a  facetious  remark,  said  that  the  purpose  was 


244  HISTORY    OF    OAKLAND,     MAINE 

to  build  a  house  for  God.      Without  belfry  and  steeple, 
the  building  would  be  God's  barn,  and  not  God's  house. 

The  size  and  style  including  belfry  and  steeple  were 
at  length  determined  and  plans  procured.  Benjamin 
H.  Oak  was  chosen  treasurer  and  chairman  of  the  build- 
ing committee.  The  other  members  of  this  committee 
were  the  Rev.  John  Sawyer  and  William  Godwin.  The 
prescribed  amount  of  stock  having  been  taken,  Austin 
Newell  of  Monson,  an  experienced  builder,  was  employed 
to  take  charge  of  the  construction  of  the  building.  One 
of  the  by-laws  forbade  the  use  of  any  alcoholic  drink  by 
any  person  employed  on  the  building,  and  that  no  such 
drink  should  be  furnished  at  its  raising.  This  action  was 
in  advance  of  the  public  sentiment  of  the  times  but  the 
by-law  was  strictly  observed. 

An  incident  worthy  of  record  occurred  at  the  raising 
of  the  building.  The  foundation  timbers  had  been  laid, 
and  the  timbers  of  the  broad  sides  had  been  put  in  place 
and  securely  fastened  together.  Muscular  men  were 
ranged  in  close  touch  with  each  other  the  entire  length 
of  the  broad  side,  awaiting  in  silence  the  command, 
"Pick  him  up,"  when  the  venerable  Father  Sawyer, 
then  eighty-two  years  of  age,  suddenly  appeared  with 
bared  head,  his  long  thin  locks  of  snowy  whiteness  float- 
ing in  the  breeze,  and  offered  a  brief  and  earnest  prayer 
for  a  successful  and  safe  termination  of  the  day's  work, 
and  that  the  building  when  completed  might  aid  in  the 
spread  of  the  Gospel.  During  this  digression,  the  men 
listened  in  reverential  silence. 

This  building,  which  had  its  beginning  in  1835,  was 
not  completed  until  18S7.  Mr.  Newell,  who  had  taken 
charge  of  the  work  in  1835,  and  had  completed  the  out- 
side of  the  building  before  the  close  of  the  season, 
entered  into  a  contract  with  the  parish  to  finish  it  in  the 
following  year,  but  the  cold  of  the  late  autumn  compelled 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,    MAINE  245 

him  to  await  the  warmer  weather  of  the  following  spring 
to  complete  his  contract. 

In  the  meantime,  he  entered  into  a  contract  with  our 
well-remembered  citizen,  Isaac  Fall,  to  complete  the 
work  of  building,  which  was  accomplished  in  the  summer 
of  1837.  Mr.  Newell,  after  having  paid  bills  for 
materials  and  work,  and  provided  for  the  payment  of 
Mr.  Fall  for  the  completion  of  the  job,  had  eighteen 
dollars  to  show  for  his  work  in  the  season  of  1836. 
The  Meeting  House  Company,  with  credit  to  itself, 
made  him  a  reasonable  additional  compensation. 

While  the  work  on  the  building  was  in  progress,  it 
became  apparent  to  the  Meeting  House  Company  that 
its  cost  would  largely  exceed  the  original  estimate,  to 
meet  which  was  a  perplexing  problem.  In  their  extrem- 
ity, kind  friends  of  other  places  helped  them.  Father 
Sawyer,  the  original  mover  in  the  building,  obtained  aid 
to  meet  the  deficiency  from  citizens  of  other  places. 
Among  these  were  S.  J.  Foster,  George  W.  Ricker,  S. 
Smith,  George  A.  Thatcher,  S.  S.  Crosby,  J.  W.  Mason, 
W.  D.  Williamson,  R.  &  R.  Haskins  &  Co.,  D.  M. 
McDougal,  A.  Davis,  J.  B.  Fisk,  J.  Carr,  Cram  & 
Button,  and  McGaw  of  Bangor,  also  D.  Bar  stow  and 
Holyoke  &  Page  of  Brewer.  Edward  Hill  of  New 
York,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Josiah  Merriam,  was  a  liberal 
contributor. 

The  dedication  of  the  house,  which  was  the  occasion 
of  great  interest,  occurred  early  in  the  season  of  1837. 
The  bell  of  the  meeting  house  was  purchased  and  placed 
in  position  in  the  year  1857.  Many  citizens  outside  the 
Congregational  parish  contributed  to  the  purchasing 
fund.  It  was  made  by  Meneely  &  Sons,  who  had  the 
reputation  of  being  the  best  manufacturers  of  beUs  in 
America. 


246  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Garland   in    1836 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  1836,  held  March  14, 
Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator ;  Stephen  Smith, 
town  clerk ;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Enoch  Huntington  and 
Joseph  Prescott,  selectmen;  Benjamin  H.  Oak,  treas- 
urer; James  J.  Chandler,  collector,  and  Daniel  M. 
Haskell,  Alphonzo  Adams  and  Ezekiel  Page,  superin- 
tending school  committee. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  for  the  roads,  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for 
schools  and  two  hundred  dollars  to  defray  town  charges. 
Benjamin  H.  Oak,  Ezekiel  Page,  Enoch  Huntington, 
Moses  Gordon  and  Ezekiel  Straw,  were  appointed  to 
redistrict  the  town  in  the  interest  of  the  public  schools 
and  were  instructed  to  report  at  the  September  meeting. 

The  support  of  a  female  pauper  was  determined  by 
auction,  and  she  became  an  inmate  of  the  family  of  the 
lowest  bidder  for  the  term  of  one  year.  The  com- 
pensation for  her  support  was  eighteen  dollars  and  fifty 
cents,  and  such  assistance  as  she  could  give  in  the  house- 
work of  the  family.  This  method  of  providing  for  the 
support  of  the  poor  soon  became  offensive  to  the  moral 
sentiment  of  the  people,  and  was  early  abandoned. 

A  special  meeting  for  town  business  was  held  Septem- 
ber 1%  1836.  At  this  meeting,  the  committee 
appointed  at  the  annual  town  meeting  to  redistrict  the 
town  in  the  interest  of  the  public  schools,  reported  in 
favor  of  some  changes  in  existing  districts,  and  the 
establishment  of  one  or  more  new  districts.  The  report 
of  this  committee  was  accepted.  By  virtue  of  this 
action,  the  town  embraced  eight  school  districts  in  1836. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  247 


Bears 

In  the  autumn  of  1836,  beai*s  became  more  numerous 
and  bold  in  their  assaults  upon  growing  crops.  They 
seemed  almost  human  in  their  partiality  for  green  corn 
and,  like  humans  of  the  baser  sort,  they  committed  their 
depredations  under  the  cover  of  darkness.  Influenced 
by  the  general  badness  of  the  bear,  the  town  voted  '  'that 
a  premium  of  three  dollars  be  awarded  to  any  person 
residing  in  this  town  who  shall  kill  a  bear,  and  produce 
sufficient  testimony  of  the  fact  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
town." 


Fall  Elections  of  1836 

The  balloting  for  State  and  other  officers  occurred 
September  12,  when  Robert  P.  Dunlap,  Democrat, 
received  seventy-six  votes  for  governor.  Edward  Kent, 
Whig,  received  thirty-eight  votes  for  governor. 

There  were  five  trials  to  elect  a  representative  to  the 
State  Legislature  in  the  class  which  embraced  Garland, 
and  five  failures  to  elect.  Balloting  for  presidential 
electors  occurred  November  7,  when  the  Democratic 
candidates  received  forty-nine  votes  each.  Whig  candi- 
dates received  twenty-nine  votes  each. 

llie  candidates  for  President  were  Martin  Van  Buren, 
Democrat,  and  William  K.  Harrison,  Whig. 


248  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Garland  in  1837 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  1837,  held  on  March 
18,  Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator;  Charles 
Reynolds,  town  clerk;  Enoch  Huntington,  Ezekiel  Straw 
and  Luther  Rideout,  selectmen;  Benjamin  H.  Oak, 
treasurer;  Samuel  W.  Knight,  collector,  and  Daniel  M. 
Haskell,  E.  L.  Norcross  and  Samuel  Skillin,  superintend- 
ing school  committee. 

The  town  voted  to  raise  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
for  schools,  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  roads, 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  town  charges  and  sup- 
port of  the  poor.  The  premium  of  three  dollars  per 
head  for  the  destruction  of  bears  was  continued.  The 
care  of  the  poor  was  delegated  to  the  selectmen. 

The  cemetery  at  West  Garland  was  established  in 
1837,  by  vote  of  the  town,  and  the  land  therefor  was 
purchased  of  Mr.  Lawrence  and  Russell  Murdock.  The 
ground  was  graded  by  the  voluntary  labor  of  the  public 
spirited  citizens  of  West  Garland. 


Fall  Elections 

The  legal  voters  of  the  town  balloted  for  State  and 
other  officers  on  the  second  Monday  of  September. 

For  governor,  Edward  Kent,  Whig,  received  eighty- 
six  votes ;  Gorham  Parks,  Democrat,  received  eighty-five 
votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  David  Harvey, 
Democrat,  received  eighty -nine  votes ;  Eleazer  W.  Snow, 
Whig,  received  eighty -five  votes. 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  249 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  town  held  on  the  day  of 
the  fall  elections,  it  was  voted  to  petition  the  Legislature 
for  the  passage  of  a  law  to  require  each  county  in  the 
State  to  make  and  repair  all  the  roads  within  its  limits. 

Also  to  "authorize  the  selectmen  to  petition  the 
Legislature  to  amend  the  constitution  (of  the  State)  so 
that  the  compensation  of  all  judicial  officers,  and  their 
time  of  service,  shall  be  placed  within  the  reach  of  the 
people  and  subject  to  be  altered  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
Legislature. ' ' 

The  legal  voters  balloted  a  second  time  on  October  2 
for  representative  to  the  Legislature,  when  Daniel  Chase, 
Democrat,  received  eighty  votes;  Eleazer  W.  Snow, 
Whig,  received  eighty -four  votes. 

On  a  third  trial  to  elect  a  representative.  Garland 
gave  Daniel  Chase,  eighty-three  votes;  Eleazer  W. 
Snow,  seventy-five  votes. 

A  movement  was  made  this  year  (1837)  to  divide 
Penobscot  County,  and  to  establish  a  new  county  to  be 
known  as  Piscataquis  County.  The  original  purpose  was 
to  embody  the  tier  of  towns  that  embraced  the  town  of 
Garland  in  the  new  county.  As  the  business  relations 
of  this  tier  of  towns  were  almost  solely  with  Bangor,  its 
citizens  were  strongly  opposed  to  incorporation  with  the 
proposed  new  county. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  October  2,  1837,  the  town 
voted  to  remonstrate  against  division,  and  in  case  of 
division,  to  petition  the  Legislature  to  be  left  in  the  old 
county.  The  desire  expressed  in  the  petition  was  real- 
ized, and  Garland  still  remains  in  the  old  county. 


250  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 


Hard  Times 

The  year  1837  was,  to  many  citizens  of  Maine,  a 
period  of  disappointment  and  hardship,  engendered  by 
wild  speculation  in  Eastern  lands.  Some  men  had  sud- 
denly become  rich,  but  many  more  had  lost  the  slowly 
acquired  accumulations  of  years.  The  sufferers  were 
mainly  residents  of  cities  and  larger  towns.  Residents 
in  the  country  towns  had  nothing  to  invest  in  speculative 
ventures  and  therefore  lost  nothing  directly. 

As  in  other  years,  the  farms  that  had  been  brought 
into  a  productive  condition  afforded  the  families  of  their 
owners  a  livelihood  and  means  to  pay  current  expenses. 
But  there  was  a  class  of  farmers  who  were  beginning  on 
new  farms  that  were  more  seriously  affected  by  the  pre- 
vailing financial  conditions.  Mr.  A.  W.  Straw,  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  Bangor,  who  then  was  a  boy  in  his 
father's  home  at  Garland,  gives  the  following  narration. 

His  father,  Mr.  James  Straw,  had  purchased  a  new 
farm  where  he  was  struggling  to  support  a  large  family. 
At  the  close  of  the  spring's  work  he  found  that  the 
family  supplies  were  running  short.  He  had  no  money. 
As  in  the  case  of  his  independent  neighbors,  credit 
would  not  avail  for  the  purchase  of  food  supplies.  As 
the  only  resort,  he  took  his  two  older  boys,  A.  W.  and 
James  M.,  into  the  cedar  growth  where  the  three,  by 
several  days  of  severe  labor,  made  shingles  enough  to 
load  a  yoke  of  oxen. 

The  shingles  were  loaded  upon  a  wagon  and  the  father, 
taking  rations  for  himself  and  oxen  from  the  scanty 
supply  at  home,  started  on  his  toilsome  journey  to  Ban- 
gor, traveling  by  day,  and  sleeping  under  his  wagon  at 
night. 

The  shingles  were  sold  to  Abner  Taylor  at  one  dollar 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  251 

and  fifty  cents  per  thousand  and,  with  the  proceeds,  he 
purchased  supplies  for  his  family,' and  returned  home, 
having  been  absent  four  days  and  three  nights.  By 
industry  and  economy,  the  Straw  family  soon  came  into 
line  with  their  more  independent  neighbors. 


Surplus   Revenue 

For  several  years  anterior  to  the  year  1837,  the  reve- 
nues of  the  United  States  government  were  in  excess  of 
its  expenditures.  By  an  act  of  Congress  this  surplus 
was  distributed  to  the  several  states,  and  by  them,  to  the 
towns  within  their  respective  limits.  The  town  of  Gar- 
land promptly  indicated  its  acceptance  of  the  proffered 
gift.  Charles  Reynolds  was  appointed  an  agent  by  the 
town  '*to  demand  and  receive  from  the  State  treasury 
the  portion  of  said  money  belonging  to  the  town  of 
Garland,"  and  was  authorized  to  receipt  therefor.  In 
pursuance  of  instructions,  Mr.  Reynolds  transferred  this 
money,  amounting  to  about  two  thousand  dollars,  from 
the  State  treasury  to  the  town  treasury. 


An  Elephant 

Now  that  the  money  was  in  the  hands  of  the  town, 
the  question  that  confronted  its  citizens  was  —  What 
shall  we  do  with  it?  Men  who  had  been  blessed  with 
large  families,  favored  a  per  capita  distribution.  Men 
whose  action  was  controlled  by  their  sympathy  for  the 


252  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

poor,  favored  the  purchase  of   a  home  for  that  unfor- 
tunate class. 

Another  class  thought  that  it  should  constitute  a  fund, 
the  interest  of  which  should  be  used  from  year  to  year, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  public  schools.  There  were  others 
who  were  in  favor  of  loaning  it  in  small  sums  to  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  who  desired  to  hire  it.  The  last 
named  proposition  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  the  town. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  March  11,  1837,  Ezekiel 
Straw,  Enoch  Huntington  and  Jeremiah  Flanders,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  invest  Garland's  share  of  the 
fund.  This  committee  was  instructed  to  lend  it  to 
inhabitants  of  Garland  only,  in  sums  ranging  from  fifty 
to  one  hundred  dollars,  on  demand  notes,  drawing  inter- 
est, each  note  to  be  indorsed  by  two  responsible  parties, 
freeholders,  residing  in  the  town,  who  were  to  be  jointly 
and  severally  held  with  the  principal  for  the  payment  of 
the  notes,  which  were  to  run  until  the  annual  meeting  of 
1838.  No  person  would  be  accepted  as  surety  for  more 
than  SI  00. 

Borrowers  were  plenty,  and  the  surplus  fund  soon  dis- 
appeared from  the  treasury,  notes  payable  on  demand 
taking  its  place,  with  the  understanding  that  demand 
for  payment  would  be  made  on,  or  before,  the  date  of 
the  annual  town  meeting  of  1838.  As  in  the  case  of  all 
promises  to  pay,  the  date  for  the  payment  of  these  notes 
came  round  with  relentless  punctuality  to  find  a  majority 
of  the  promisers  were  not  ready  to  pay.  At  the  annual 
town  meeting  of  1838,  the  men  of  large  families  came 
to  the  front  and  demanded  that  the  fund  should  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  per  capita. 
This  demand  was  carried  by  a  vote  of  the  town.  The 
treasurer  of  the  fund  was  directed  to  collect  forthwith 
all  that  was  still  out  on  loan,  and  deposit  it  in  the 
treasury. 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  253 

But  it  was  soon  discovered  that  it  had  been  easier  to 
lend  money  in  1837  than  to  collect  it  in  1838.  The 
best  efforts  of  the  treasurer  to  collect  proved  unavailing. 
At  a  special  meeting  held  May  5,  1838,  the  town  voted 
to  distribute  two  dollars  and  seven  cents  of  the  surplus 
fund  to  each  individual  enumerated  in  the  census  for  the 
distribution  of  the  said  fund.  This  action  involved  the 
necessity  of  a  special  enumeration  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  to  fix  the  basis  of  distribution. 

Although  the  town  had  voted  to  pay  each  inhabitant 
two  dollars  and  seven  cents,  it  had  made  no  provision  to 
obtain  the  funds  necessary  to  carry  out  the  purposes  of 
this  vote.  ITiis  neglect  was  followed  by  much  excite- 
ment, to  allay  which  a  special  meeting  of  the  voters  was 
held  on  the  14th  of  July,  1838,  "To  see  if  the  town 
will  hire  one  thousand  dollai-s,  or  any  other  sum,  and 
settle  with  individuals  on  account  of  the  surplus  fund  or 
take  any  other  method  thought  best  when  met. ' ' 

This  proposition  to  hire  one  thousand  dollars  to  pay 
the  beneficiaries  of  the  fund  indicated  approximately  the 
sum  that  still  remained  uncollected.  Upon  the  article, 
**To  see  if  the  town  will  hire  one  thousand  dollars,  or 
any  other  sum,  and  settle  with  individuals  on  account  of 
the  surplus  fund,"  it  was  voted  at  the  meeting  of  July 
14,  1838,  *'That  the  treasurer  is  hereby  empowered  to 
hire  on  the  credit  of  the  town  a  sufficient  sum  of  money 
to  pay  off  the  surplus  fund  debt  before  the  annual  meet- 
ing in  September  next."  But  the  treasurer  failed  to 
accomplish  the  purpose  of  this  vote. 


254  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Garland  in  1838 

Meetings  for  town  business  were  of  frequent  occurrence 
in  1838,  some  of  which  were  barren  of  results.  The 
officers  of  the  town  were  Russell  Murdock,  moderator; 
Nehemiah  Bartlett,  town  clerk;  Enoch  Huntington, 
Charles  Reynolds  and  Samuel  Skillin,  selectmen ;  Joseph 
True,  Jr. ,  treasurer ;  Samuel  W.  Knight,  collector ;  and 
Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Lyndon  Oak  and  Asa  Barton,  super- 
intending school  committee. 

The  town  appropriated  five  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  four  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  and  two 
thousand  dollars  for  highways.  One  hundred  dollars, 
cash,  was  voted  for  the  northwest  county  road. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  on  May  5,  at  which  appli- 
cations of  two  new  citizens,  Solomon  and  Phineas  Gee, 
emigrants  from  England,  for  a  pro  rata  share  of  the 
surplus  revenue  fund  were  considered.  These  citizens, 
not  having  been  naturalized,  the  applications  were  not 
granted.  Vai-ious  propositions  for  the  location,  repair 
and  building  of  roads  were  acted  upon  adversely. 

Another  special  meeting  was  held  on  July  14,  which 
was  devoted  mainly  to  considerations  relating  to  roads. 
A  road  craze  seemed  to  have  settled  upon  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town.  At  a  special  meeting  held  September  10, 
Samuel  Skillin,  Nehemiah  Bartlett  and  Edward  B.  Holt 
were  appointed  to  prepare  plans,  and  to  contract  for  the 
building  of  a  bridge  across  the  Kenduskeag  Stream  at 
Holt's  Mills.  The  selectmen  were  again  instructed  to 
remonstrate  against  the  annexation  of  Garland  to  the 
new  county  of  Piscataquis,  also  to  petition  the  Legisla- 
ture for  a  law  requiring  each  county  to  build  and  keep 
in  repair  the  county  roads  within  its  own  limits. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  255 

The  annual  State  election  of  1838  was  held  on  Sep- 
tember 10, 

John  Fairfield,  Democratic  candidate  for  governor, 
received  one  hundred  and  thirty  votes;  Edward  Kent, 
Whig,  received  ninety  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Thomas  Davee, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  thirty  votes ;  John 
S.  Tenney,  Whig,  received  ninety  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Joseph  True, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  votes ; 
Asa  Barton,  Whig,  received  ninety  votes. 

The  first  movement  for  the  building  of  a  town  hall 
was  made  in  1838.  Under  the  lead  of  Joseph  Bartlett, 
afterwards  a  prominent  citizen  of  Bangor,  and  editor  of 
The  Jeffersonian,  (newspaper)  individuals  offered  to 
supply  gratuitously  a  considerable  amount  of  lumber  for 
the  construction  of  a  building,  whose  roof  should  cover 
a  room  for  a  high  school,  and  a  hall  for  town  business 
and  public  gatherings.  But  the  plan  was  in  advance  of 
public  sentiment  and  failed  of  realization. 


Garland's  Artillery  Company 

A  company  of  artillery  was  organized  in  1838  through 
the  influence  and  active  exertions  of  Col.  John  S. 
Kimball  of  Bangor,  who  at  that  time  resided  at  Garland. 
Col.  Kimball  possessed  an  ardent  military  temperament, 
and  much  experience  in  military  matters.  He  drew  into 
the  organization  many  of  the  most  respectable  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  military  age.  He  was  the  first 
captain  of  the  company,  and  he  succeeded  in  investing 
its  members  with  a  good  degree  of  military  pride. 


^56 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


He  was  succeeded  in  the  captaincy  of  the  company  by 
Fifield  Lyford,  who  in  turn  was  followed  by  John  S. 
Runnals.  Some  of  its  lieutenants  were,  A.  M.  Haskell, 
Isaac  Fall  and  Ezekiel  Page. 

,  A  substantial  building  of  ample  dimensions  was  con- 
structed for  an  armory  and  drill  hall.  The  State  fur- 
nished two  brass  field-pieces  whose  deep  intonations 
resounded  through  the  town  on  public  occasions,  some- 
times awaking  the  sleepy  inhabitants  at  unseasonable 
hours.  The  company  was  regarded  with  pride  by  the 
citizens  of  the  town.  It  is  regretted  that  the  company 
rolls  have  not  been  saved  so  that  a  full  list  of  its  mem- 
bers could  be  given.  A  partial  list  embraces  the  follow- 
ing names : 


John  S.  Kimball, 
Fifield  Lyford, 
Ezekiel  Page, 
M.  C.  Emerson, 
John  P.  Smith, 
Richmond  Osgood, 
A.  M.  Haskell, 
John  S.  Runnals, 
Samuel  Skillin, 
Josiah  Skillin, 


Leonard  Skillin, 
Noah  Burnham, 
Mark  Burnham, 
Luther  Rideout, 
Thomas  Fifield, 
Moody  Bailey, 
Lebbeus  Oak, 
Stephen  B.  Dockham, 
Albert  Skinner. 


A  Foreign  Venture 


In  the  year  18S8,  Capt.  Fifield  Lyford,  who  owned 
the  village  mill  property  at  Garland,  conceived  the  plan 
of  shipping  to  London  a  cargo  of  lumber  of  the  descrip- 
tions known  as  bird's-eye  maple  and  curly  birch,  which 
were  sometimes  used  in  the  manufacture  of    furniture. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  257 

The  lumber  was  sawed  at  his  mill,  hauled  to  Bangor  by 
team,  and  shipped  to  London.  Capt.  Lyford  took 
passage  in  the  same  vessel  to  attend  to  the  sale  of  the 
lumber. 

In  due  time  the  cargo  arrived  at  London  in  good  con- 
dition and  was  readily  sold  at  good  prices.  Elated  at 
his  good  fortune  in  the  disposition  of  his  cargo  and  the 
attentions  of  its  generous  purchaser,  who  showed  him 
some  of  the  sights  of  London,  and  possibly  excited  by  a 
favorite  beverage  in  which  he  sometimes  indulged,  he 
soared  to  the  realm  of  a  lofty  idealism  from  which  he 
disclosed  to  his  new  friend,  areas  of  land  of  almost  limit- 
less extent  which  were  covered  with  magnificent  forest 
growths.  So  realistic  were  his  descriptions,  that  one 
could  almost  hear  the  cheery  voices  of  his  workmen,  the 
ringing  blows  of  their  axes.  Before  leaving  London,  he 
ordered  made  and  sent  to  him  some  costly  articles  for 
his  personal  use,  one  of  which  was  a  gun  to  cost  one 
hundred  dollars. 

On  his  return  home,  he  gradually  came  from  his  dizzy 
height  to  a  level  with  his  neighbors.  The  one  hundred 
dollar  gun  was  received  in  due  time,  but  finding  that  his 
pocketbook  had  collapsed,  and  that  he  could  put  it  to 
no  use  commensurate  with  its  cost,  he  returned  it  to  the 
manufacturers. 


The  Advent  of  the  Martin  Family 

On  a  pleasant  spring  morning  of  1839,  a  procession 
of  horse-carts  of  the  Canadian  pattern  entered  the  vil- 
lage and  moved  slowly  up  the  principal  street.  In  the 
forward  cart  were  a  man,  woman  and  two  boys  of  tender 
age.      The   other    carts  contained  furniture    of  humble 


258  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

descriptions.  A  sight  so  unusual  and,  withal,  so  novel, 
in  the  quiet  village  of  Garland,  aroused  the  curiosity  of 
the  women,  who  were  engaged  in  their  spring  house- 
cleaning,  and  of  the  girls  and  boys  who  were  at  their 
sports  on  the  street.  It  must  also  be  confessed  that 
the  more  phlegmatic  citizens  of  the  male  gender,  though 
not  so  conspicuous  on  the  street,  were  peering  from  win- 
dows of  shop  and  store  with  unusual  curiosity. 

In  human  affairs,  each  event  can  be  traced  to  some 
antecedent  cause  of  which  it  is  the  consequent ;  so  the 
cause  of  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  strangers  in  our 
village  was  soon  developed.  The  procession  halted  in 
the  center  of  the  village,  when  the  man  inquired  for 
Capt.  Lyford,  the  great  land  owner.  A  troop  of  small 
boys  rushed  forth  at  the  top  of  their  speed  in  search  of 
the  doughty  captain,  who  soon  put  in  an  appearance. 
Both  men  disclosed  a  large  degree  of  surprise  at  the  close 
of  a  brief  conversation,  and  it  will  never  be  known  which 
one  was  the  more  surprised. 

While  in  a  state  of  high  exaltation  in  London  a  year 
earlier,  the  Captain  was  introduced  to  a  Mr.  Martin,  an 
accomplished  bookkeeper,  to  whom  he  promised  em- 
ployment if  he  would  come  to  America.  Now  Mr. 
Martin,  although  an  expert  accountant  and  bookkeeper, 
could  earn  enough  in  his  profession  by  close  application 
to  support  his  family,  yet  like  other  men  of  his  class, 
his  prospect  for  doing  more  than  this  in  London  at  that 
time,  was  dubious.  He  soon  became  conscious  of  a 
purpose  to  emigrate  to  America,  which,  although  weak 
at  first  gathered  strength  as  the  weeks  rolled  on,  and 
ripened  into  determination. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1839,  he  had  saved  enough  to 
pay  for  the  passage  of  himself  and  family  to  Canada, 
and  thence  to  Maine.      Mr.  Martin  was  soon  forced  to 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  259 

the  painfiil  consciousness  that  the  great  land  owner  was 
a  myth. 

He  had  spent  his  little  all  in  getting  here  to  find  him- 
self among  strangers,  out  of  money,  and  destitute  of 
employment.  He  was  unfitted  for  any  out  of  door 
labor.  Fortunately  he  found  shelter  in  the  village  for 
his  family  and  furniture,  but  was  soon  destitute  of 
food.  Kind  neighbors  provided  for  their  immediate 
wants.  The  attention  of  the  town  authorities  was  soon 
called  to  their  condition  and  their  needs  were  supplied 
by  public,  instead  of  private  charity,  for  a  brief  time. 


"AU  is  Well  That  Ends  Well" 

Col.  John  S.  Kimball,  a  former  citizen  of  Bangor,  was 
a  resident  of  Garland  at  the  date  of  the  arrival  of  the 
Martin  family.  The  condition  of  the  family  appealed 
to  his  sympathies  and,  with  characteristic  generosity,  he 
obtained  for  him  a  situation  as  bookkeeper  for  Gen. 
Vefizie  of  Bangor.  The  value  of  his  services  soon  became 
known  to  the  business  men  of  that  place,  and  he  had  no 
difficulty  in  finding  employment  as  long  as  he  remained 
there.  A  few  years  later.  Gen.  Veazie  employed  him  as 
manager  and  salesman  of  a  shipload  of  merchandise 
bound  to  California.  Finding  a  demand  for  his  services 
there,  he  sent  for  his  family  and  became  a  resident  of 
California. 


260  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Garland  in  1839 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  1839,  held  March  11, 
the  officers  chosen  were  Russell  Murdock,  moderator; 
Charles  Reynolds,  town  clerk;  Charles  Reynolds,  Samuel 
Skillin  and  Nehemiah  Bartlett,  selectmen ;  Joseph  True 
Jr.,  treasurer;  Nehemiah  Bartlett,  town  agent;  Asa 
Barton,  Lyndon  Oak  and  Rev.  S.  S.  Drake,  super- 
intending school  committee,  and  James  Greeley,  collector 
of  taxes,  compensation  three  per  cent. 

The  town  appropriated  five  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  six  hundred  doUars  for  town  charges,  and  two 
thousand  dollars  for  roads.  As  usual  the  town  was 
road  ridden.  Of  the  thirty-one  articles  in  the  warrant 
calling  the  annual  meeting  of  1839,  six  related  to  town 
officers,  four  to  appropriations,  five  to  incidental  matters 
and  the  remaining  sixteen  articles  related  to  roads.  At 
a  special  meeting,  held  September  9,  of  the  eight  prop- 
ositions acted  on,  five  related  to  roads. 

The  annual  State  election  was  held  September  9.  For 
governor,  John  Fairfield,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  votes ;  Edward  Kent,  Whig,  received  ninety- 
four  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Zebulon 
Bradley,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
votes;  Nathaniel  Huckins,  Whig,  received  ninety-three 
votes. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  on  the  day  of  the  State 
election,  the  following  question  was  submitted  to  the 
voters  of  the  towns  of  the  State:  "Shall  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  State  be  so  amended  as  to  strike  out  the 
fourth  section  of  the  sixth  article  and  substitute  in  the 
room  thereof  the  words  following,  viz:     Section  fourth: 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  261 

All  judicial  officers  now  in  office,  or  who  may  be  ap- 
pointed hereafter,  shall  from,  and  after  the  first  day  of 
March  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1840  hold  their  offices 
for  the  term  of  seven  years  from  the  time  of  their  re- 
spective appointments  (unless  sooner  removed  by  im- 
peachment, or  by  address  of  both  branches  of  the  Legis- 
lature to  the  Executive)  and  no  longer  unless  re- 
appointed thereto. ' '  Upon  this  question  the  town  gave 
one  hundred  and  thirteen  affirmative,  and  twenty-five 
negative  votes. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  December  9,  1839,  Asa 
Barton,  Samuel  W.  Knight,  and  James  J.  Chandler 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  receive  offers  for  the  sale 
of  a  farm  suitable  for  a  home  for  the  unfortunate  poor, 
and  were  instructed  to  report  to  the  town  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  1840.  Upon  the  report  of  this  committee, 
it  was  voted  that  Asa  Barton,  James  J.  Chandler,  Enoch 
Huntington,  Jeremiah  Flanders  and  Daniel  M.  Haskell 
be  a  committee  to  purchase  a  farm  whereon  to  support 
the  poor.  But  this  committee  was  hedged  by  limita- 
tions which  frustrated  the  well-meant  attempt  to  benefit 
an  unfortunate  class  of  our  citizens. 


Garland  in  the  Aroostook  War 

To  the  inhabitants  of  Garland  and  other  towns  in 
eastern  Maine,  the  exciting  event  of  1839  was  the  call 
for  men  to  defend  the  territory  contiguous  to  New 
Brunswick  which  was  claimed  by  both  that  province  and 
the  State  of  Maine.  The  origin  of  the  dispute  between 
the  two  sections  was  the  indefiniteness  of  the  terms  by 
which  the  dividing  line  had  been  described  in  the  treaty 


262  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

of  1783,  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 
The  crisis  came  in  1839.  Early  in  that  year,  the 
Governor  of  Maine,  John  Fairfield,  was  officially  notified 
that  citizens  of  New  Brunswick  were  plundering  the  dis- 
puted territory  of  its  best  timber. 

The  Governor  immediately  dispatched  the  sheriff  of 
Penobscot  County,  Hastings  Strickland,  with  a  posse 
numbering  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  men 
to  drive  the  plunderers  off.  The  sheriff  started  from 
Bangor  with  his  posse  on  the  5th  day  of  February. 

The  plunderers,  three  hundred  in  number,  having  been 
apprized  of  the  sheriff's  approach,  broke  into  the  arsenal 
at  Woodstock,  armed  themselves  with  muskets  and 
assumed  a  defensive  attitude,  but,  hearing  that  the 
sherifTs  posse  had  a  six  pounder  cannon  they  prudently 
retired  to  a  point  within  British  territory. 

At  this  juncture,  a  conference  was  held  at  the  tavern 
of  one  Fitzherbert  which  was  participated  in  by  Land 
Agent  Mclntire  and  his  friends,  G.  G.  Cushman  and 
Colonel  Webster  of  Orono,  on  the  one  side,  and  a  Mr. 
McLaughlin,  British  warden  of  the  disputed  territory, 
and  a  few  friends  on  the  other. 

During  the  following  night  the  land  agent  and  his 
friends  were  seized  by  a  party  of  forty  armed  men  and 
carried  on  an  ox-sled  to  Woodstock,  where  they  were  com- 
mitted to  the  Frederickton  jail.  On  February  14th 
Sheriff  Strickland  suddenly  reappeared  in  Bangor,  having 
performed  the  journey  from  the  "seat  of  war"  by  a 
wild  ride  of  two  days,  which  had  been  facilitated  by 
relays  of  horses  at  regular  intervals.  His  rapid  and 
dramatic  recital  of  the  events  had,  together  with  the 
exciting  news  of  the  day  following  (Feb.  15th,)  of  the 
treacherous  seizure  of  our  land  agent  and  his  companions 
and  the  humiliating  treatment  they  had  received,  raised 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  263 

the  war  spirit  to  a  fever  heat.  Measures  for  the  rescue 
of  the  prisoners  were  immediately  adopted. 

Two  days  later  an  event  occurred  which  rendered  the 
execution  of  these  measures  unnecessary.  On  Sunday, 
Feb.  17th,  the  Houlton  stage  brought  in  as  prisoner  the 
British  land  warden,  McLaughlin,  who  participated  in 
the  parley  at  Fitzherbert's.  He  was  attended  by  a 
guard  of  stalwart  men,  one  of  whom  was  John  Tar  box 
of  Garland.  The  news  of  the  arrival  of  McLaughlin 
spread  through  the  city  like  wildfire.  In  an  incredibly 
short  time  the  streets  were  filled  with  spectators  eager  to 
see  the  Britisher.  The  weather  being  cold  the  warden 
was  protected  by  a  large  bearskin  overcoat,  which  in 
the  heated  state  of  the  popular  sentiment,  made  it  easy 
to  transform  the  man  into  the  animal  whose  skin  he 
wore.  With  a  vivid  remembrance  of  the  treatment 
awarded  our  land  agent  and  his  friends,  Mr.  McLaughlin 
feared  violence  at  the  hands  of  the  crowd.  He  was, 
however,  provided  with  quarters  at  the  Bangor  House 
and  kindly  treated  during  his  stay. 

The  events  which  have  been  narrated  came  upon  the 
people  of  this  section  with  startling  suddenness.  Less 
than  two  weeks  had  elapsed  since  they  received  the  first 
intimation  of  the  danger  of  a  rupture  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain  in  consequence  of  the 
,  northeastern  boundary  dispute.  But  it  had  assumed  a 
serious  aspect.  Major  General  Hodsdon  issued  orders  on 
February  17th  for  a  draft  of  one  thousand  men  from  the 
eastern  division  of  the  Maine  militia  who  were  required 
to  appear  at  Bangor  on  Tuesday,  the  1 9th  inst. 

In  this  division  were  four  companies  of  artillery, — one 
each  at  Bangor,  Garland,  Lincoln  and  Orland.  The 
requisition  upon  this  company  at  Garland  was  for 
thirty-two  men.  On  Monday,  February  18th,  the  artil- 
lery men  were  drawn  up  in  line  in  the  center  of  the  village 


264  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

and  a  call  was  made  for  volunteers.  A  few  young  men, 
who  had  no  families  to  leave  behind,  responded. 

A  draft  was  then  resorted  to  to  secure  the  full  number 
required.  The  personnel  of  the  quota  was  as  follows: 
Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Wm.  Haskell,  Gardiner  Smith, 
Luther  Rideout,  Ezekiel  Page,  John  P.  Smith,  Thos.  B. 
Fifield,  Daniel  E.  Fifield,  Moody  Bailey,  John  S. 
Runnals,  Joseph  Bartlett,  Isaac  Wheeler,  Jr. ,  Hiram  F. 
Godwin,  Stephen  B.  Dockham,  Samuel  Bridge,  Micah 
C.  Emerson,  Charles  Haskell,  Andrew  M.  Haskell,  J. 
B.  Reed,  Samuel  Knight,  Fifield  Lyford,  Artemas 
Merriam,  Robt.  P.  Davis,  Jedediah  Kimball,  Zenas 
Bartlett,  Giles  Straw,  Samuel  A.  Hamilton,  Albert 
Skinner,  Mark  Burnham,  John  Batchelder,  Horace 
Batchelder  and  John  C.  Ladd. 

Of  the  four  companies  the  Garland  company  furnished 
the  largest  number,  in  which  were  many  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  the  town.  Its  present  citizens  may  be 
pardoned,  if  while  recounting  these  names,  they  indulge 
in  a  feeling  of  pride  regarding  the  character  of  their 
quota. 

The  men  were  drafted  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday 
and  after  spending  a  few  hours  in  arranging  their  busi- 
ness affairs  they  took  hasty  leave  of  their  families  and 
presented  themselves  at  Bangor  on  the  following  day. 
They  were  mustered  into  service  Wednesday,  February 
20  th. 

The  quotas  of  the  four  companies,  numbering  about 
eighty  men,  formed  a  battalion  which  went  into  quarters 
at  City-Point  Block.  After  a  stop  of  two  days  for 
necessary  preparations,  they  started  on  their  long  march 
to  the  frontier.  The  route  determined  on  was  up  the 
Penobscot  River  to  Moluncus,  thence  to  the  Aroostook 
River  by  way  of  Patten,  and  from  there  on  the  ice  to 
Fort  Fairfield.     In  the  march  to  Patten  the  company 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  265 

was  quartered  at  night  at  the  following  places :  Milford, 
Lincoln  and  Moluncus,  reaching  Patten  at  the  end  of 
the  fourth  day.  On  the  morning  of  the  fifth  day  the 
march  towards  the  Aroostook  River  was  resumed,  but  it 
was  arrested  at  an  early  hour  by  the  appearance  of  a 
courier  with  the  information  that  the  ice  on  the  Aroos- 
took had  been  submerged  by  a  freshet,  rendering  travel  on 
that  river  impracticable.  The  battalion  was  ordered  to 
return  to  Moluncus.  On  the  return  march,  it  camped 
at  night  at  Benedicta.  Here  some  of  the  privates  pur- 
chased a  rooster  for  amusement.  This  bird,  following 
the  fortunes  of  the  battalion  in  all  its  subsequent 
marches,  may  be  regarded  as  a  prototype  of  the  war 
eagle,  **01d  Abe,"  which  followed  the  fortunes  of  a 
Wisconsin  regiment  through  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
He  soon  became  familiar  with  military  life  and  partici- 
pated in  its  excitements.  When  the  big  guns  thundered 
he  would  instantly  mount  his  perch,  spread  his  wings 
and  crow  to  the  extent  of  his  capacity,  which  was  not 
small.      He  soon  became  the  pet  of  the  battalion. 

From  Moluncus  to  Houlton  the  march  was  on  the 
military  road,  the  battalion  encamping  one  night  be- 
tween the  two  places,  and  Houlton  was  reached  at  the 
end  of  eight  days'  march  from  Bangor.  It  remained 
there  about  two  weeks. 

At  Houlton  an  incident  occuiTed  which  afforded  much 
amusement.  A  ruse  was  planned  by  some  of  the  officers 
to  detei*mine  whether  the  night  guard  was  attentive  to 
its  duties.  A  cannon  had  been  placed  in  position  just 
outside  the  barracks.  On  the  night  of  the  execution  of 
the  plan,  our  well  known  and  honored  townsman,  Daniel 
M.  Haskell,  was  officer  of  the  guard.  At  an  hour  when 
sleep  was  supposed  to  have  the  fullest  control  of  its 
subjects,  the  attention  of  the  officer  was  called  to  a 
slight    noise    in    the  vicinity  of  the  cannon.      Rushing 


^66  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

outside  to  find  the  cause,  a  man  was  seen  retreating  in 
great  haste  into  the  surrounding  darkness.  The  officer 
stepped  inside  to  await  developments.  The  disturbance 
was  soon  repeated.  Instantly  stepping  out  he  found 
himself  in  close  proximity  to  a  man,  the  shortness  of 
whose  limbs  put  him  at  disadvantage  in  the  race.  The 
pursuer  came  up  with  him  as  he  was  scaling  a  fence  and 
grabbing  him,  soon  brought  him  to  bay,  when  he  was 
surprised  to  find  that  he  had  captured  the  good-natured 
Major  of  the  battalion.  On  their  way  together  towards 
the  barracks,  they  found  the  cannon  moving  away  from 
its  position.  The  officer  soon  overtook  it  and  cutting 
the  rope  by  which  it  was  hauled,  brought  it  to  a  dead 
stop.  Another  officer  of  the  artillery,  a  man  of  gigan- 
tic size,  tried  to  run  the  guard  the  same  night  and  found 
himself  in  the  clutches  of  two  privates  where  he  was 
held  much  against  his  will  until  the  officer  of  the  guard 
leisurely  ordered  his  release.  There  is  no  account  of 
attempts  by  the  officers  to  further  test  the  fidelity  of 
the  night  guard. 

The  sudden  death  of  a  citizen  of  Garland,  Calvin  S. 
Wheeler,  who  was  not  connected  with  the  battalion, 
occurred  during  the  encampment  at  Houlton.  His 
remains  were  attended  home  by  his  brother,  Isaac 
Wheeler,  and  his  cousin,  Wm.  S.  Haskell. 

After  a  stop  at  Houlton  of  about  two  weeks  the 
battalion  was  ordered  to  Fort  Fairfield  which  was 
reached  by  a  march  of  three  days.  The  first  night's 
encampment  was  at  Bridgewater  and  the  second  at 
Presque  Isle.  Quarters  for  the  soldiers  were  in  readi- 
ness. 

While  at  this  place  the  daily  routine  was  much  the 
same  as  at  Houlton.  Men  were  detailed  to  assist  in  the 
construction  of  a  building  for  a  storehouse  and  officers' 
quarters.      Military    drills    and   guard    duties    were    of 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  267 

every -day  occurrence.      The  monotony  of  camp  life  was 
mitigated  by  such  amusements  as  could  be  devised. 

Many  of  the  superior  officers  were  on  terms  of 
pleasant  intimacy  with  the  soldiery  when  off  duty. 
Major  General  Hodsdon  was  accustomed  to  drop  into 
the  soldiers'  quarters  and  chat  familiarly  with  the 
men.      Among  the  games  prohibited  was  card  playing. 

On  one  evening  when  the  interdicted  game  was  briskly 
going  on  at  several  points,  General  Hodsdon  made 
a  sudden  appearance  at  the  entrance  of  the  quarters. 
The  cards  were  instantly  brushed  aside,  and  the  players, 
with  an  air  of  great  innocence,  were  zealously  joining  in 
a  camp  song  which  had  been  going  on.  After  spending 
an  hour  in  familiar  conversation  with  officers  and  privates 
the  General  arose  to  retire.  On  reaching  the  door  he 
turned  and  bidding  them  a  pleasant  good  night,  left 
with  the  admonition,  ''Don't  sing  too  late  boys." 

Affairs  at  the  Fort  went  on  from  day  to  day  in  even 
flow,  but  the  flow  of  sleep  was  suddenly  interrupted  on 
one  occasion.  At  midnight  the  faint  report  of  a  musket 
from  the  picket-guard  down  by  the  river  was  heard. 
Instantly  crack,  crack,  crack,  came  from  a  dozen  muskets 
in  the  hands  of  as  many  guards.  The  artillery  men 
sprang  from  their  beds  into  their  clothing  and  formed  in 
line  on  the  parade-ground.  The  Dexter  riflemen  were  in 
line  in  front  of  them.  The  night  was  intensely  cold 
and  the  men  impatiently  awaited  orders  to  move. 
Presently  the  riflemen  started  on  a  brisk  march  towards 
the  river.  Through  a  misapprehension  of  orders,  the 
artillery  followed.  They  had  moved  only  a  short  dis- 
tance when  they  were  confronted  by  General  Hodsdon 
who  sharply  demanded  their  reason  for  moving  without 
orders.  Private  Kimball  of  the  Garland  company 
instantly  replied,  "to  gather  up  the  riflemen's  boots  as 
fast   as  thev    are  killed."     As  the  movement    was  the 


268  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

result  of  a  false  alarm  to  test  the  mettle  of  the  men, 
Private  Kimball  escaped  the  reprimand  he  might  other- 
wise have  received.  Both  companies  were  ordered  back 
into  line  on  the  parade-ground,  when,  the  roll  being 
called,  every  man  was  found  to  be  present.  General 
Hodsdon  briefly  addressed  them,  telling  them  an  amus- 
ing story  to  illustrate  the  contrast  between  their  behavior, 
and  that  he  had  witnessed  at  another  time  and  place, 
where  men  (?)  upon  a  similar  call  had  secreted  them- 
selves in  chimneys  and  ovens.  He  complimented  them 
highly  for  their  promptness  in  answering  the  call  and 
bade  them  a  kind  good  night.  The  men  fled  to  their 
berths  with  as  much  alacrity  as  the}^  had  manifested  a 
little  earlier  in  answering  the  call  to  arms. 

The  imbroglio  engendered  by  the  northeastern 
boundary  dispute  was  now  nearing  its  close.  There  had 
been  proclamations  and  counter-proclamations  by  the 
parties  to  the  dispute,  and  marchings  and  counter- 
marchings  by  the  soldiery  on  both  sides.  Among  civil- 
ians, the  war  spirit  had  ebbed  and  flowed  at  intervals. 

Early  in  March,  General  Scott  appeared  on  the  scene 
in  behalf  of  the  United  States  government,  and  imme- 
diately commenced  negotiations  for  the  peaceable  adjust- 
ment of  the  questions  in  dispute.  He  opened  corres- 
pondence with  Sir  John  Harvey,  Governor  of  New 
Brunswick,  from  whom  he  obtained  concessions  which 
were  accepted  by  our  State  authorities.  This  was  fol- 
lowed in  due  time  by  a  recall  of  the  war  forces  at  the 
front.  The  date  of  the  recall  was  about  the  10th  of 
April.  On  the  17th  of  April  the  troops  reentered 
Bangor. 

The  pet  rooster,  which  had  been  purchased  at  Benedicta 
on  the  march  to  the  front,  still  adhered  to  the  fortunes 
of  the  artillery.  On  the  march  homeward  he  had  been 
gaily  decked  in  a  scarlet  uniform,  and  upon  the  entrance 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  269 

of  the  troops  into  the  city  he  mounted  his  perch  on  the 
top  of  the  ammunition  carriage  and  defiantly  turned  his 
head  towards  the  enemy's  country  amid  the  plaudits  of 
the  crowds  on  the  streets. 

The  troops  went  into  quarters  on  Thomas  Hill. 
While  awaiting  payment  and  discharge  the  artillery 
occasionally  marched  down  town  in  ranks.  On  one  occa- 
sion by  the  invitation  of  the  leading  business  men  one 
of  the  field-pieces  was  taken  down  to  the  square  at  the 
foot  of  Hammond  street  to  give  an  exhibition  of  one 
phase  of  artillery  practice.  The  piece  was  loaded  on 
Exchange  street  and  drawn  back  by  the  horses  at  a  vio- 
lent gait  and  discharged  in  the  square.  This  was 
repeated  several  times ;  but  every  discharge  of  the  can- 
non brought  down  a  shower  of  glass  from  the  windows 
in  the  neighborhood.  This  kind  of  practice  soon  became 
distasteful  even  to  its  projectoi*s,  and  was  discontinued 
after  a  few  sample  rounds. 

On  the  23d  day  of  April,  the  artillery  men  were  paid 
off  and  discharged,  having  had  sixty-three  days'  service. 

Of  the  thirty-two  men  who  went  from  the  artillery 
company  there  was  only  one  substitute.  It  was  a  body 
of  men  who  would  command  the  respect  of  any  com- 
munity. One  of  them,  a  teacher  in  our  schools,  after- 
wards became  a  prominent  citizen  of  Bangor  and  the 
editor  of  an  influential  newspaper.  Many  of  them  were 
afterwards  prominent  in  town  affairs,  and  four  of  them 
have  represented  the  towns  of  their  class  in  the  lower 
branch  of  the  Legislature. 

Our  well  known  townsman,  Stephen  D.  Jennings,  who 
has  long  been  a  resident  of  Garland,  went  to  the  front 
with  that  fine  military  organization,  the  Dexter  Rifle 
Company,  being  at  that  time  a  citizen  of  Dexter. 

In  addition  to  the  thirty-two  men  from  the  company 
of  artillery,  seven  men  were  drafted  from  the  militia  for 


270  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

service  in  the  Aroostook  War.  Among  these  were  Aaron 
Hill,  Amos  Gordon,  Nehemiah  Bartlett  1st,  Peter  Pills- 
bury  and  William  French.  Of  these,  the  first  two  were 
represented  by  substitutes.  The  others  went  to  the 
Aroostook.  Benjamin  Garland,  John  Tarbox,  and  per- 
haps others  went  to  the  front  in  the  sheriff's  posse. 

It  was  a  dizzy  whirl  of  events  that  intervened  between 
the  call  for  one  thousand  men  and  the  date  of  the  march 
for  the  front.  The  call  was  made  on  February  17th; 
the  men  of  the  company  were  notified  to  appear  for 
draft  on  the  morning  of  the  18th;  the  draft  was  made 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day ;  the  drafted  men  pre- 
sented themselves  at  Bangor  on  the  19  th,  were  mustered 
into  service  on  the  20th  and  started  on  the  march  to  the 
front  on  the  21st.  Happily  they  were  not  called  on  to 
do  any  fighting,  but  when  fighting  seemed  inevitable 
there  was  no  flinching. 


Growth  From  1830  to  1840 

During  the  period  intervening  between  1830  and 
1840,  the  town  had  been  fairly  prosperous.  The  popu- 
lation had  increased  from  six  hundred  and  thirty-one  to 
one  thousand  and  sixty-five,  an  increase  of  more  than 
sixty-five  per  cent.  The  growth  of  the  village  during 
the  same  period  had  been  slow.  In  1840,  there  were 
only  fifteen  families  within  the  present  village.  This 
slow  growth  was  largely  due  to  the  fact  that  eligible 
building  lots  were  held  at  a  price,  or  hampered  by  con- 
ditions that  repelled  those  who  desired  to  make  homes 
therein. 

Among  the  events  of  this  period,  were  the  rebuilding 
of  the  long  bridge  in  1830,  the  rebuilding  of  the  grist- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  271 

mill  by  Reuben  Bartlett,  the  designation  of  the  month 
of  March  for  holding  future  annual  meetings  for  town 
business,  the  accident  that  terminated  the  life  of  Gar- 
land's most  prominent  citizen,  the  Hon.  Reuben 
Bartlett,  the  division  among  the  different  religious  soci- 
eties of  the  unappropriated  ministerial  fund,  the  build- 
ing of  the  Avenue  road,  the  five  trials  to  elect  a  rep- 
resentative to  the  Legislature,  and  the  heavy  fall  of 
snow  in  November,  1836,  the  acquisition  by  the  town 
of  its  share  of  the  surplus  revenue,  the  severe,  and  oft 
recurring  burdens  of  road  making,  the  hardships  engen- 
dered by  the  dearth  of  money,  the  completion  and  dedi- 
cation of  the  Congregational  meeting  house,  and  the 
beginning  of  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Drake 
over  the  Congregational  church  in  1837,  the  organization 
of  a  company  of  artillery  in  1838,  and  the  call  for  men 
for  the  defense  of  our  territory  adjoining  New  Bruns- 
wick in  1839. 


Garland  in  1840 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1840,  held  March  9, 
Russell  Murdock  was  chosen  moderator;  Charles 
Reynolds,  town  clerk;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Enoch 
Huntington  and  Ezekiel  Page,  selectmen  and  assessors, 
and  Asa  Barton,  Rev.  S.  S.  Drake  and  Lyndon  Oak, 
superintending  school  committee. 

David  Skillin  was  chosen  collector  and  treasurer,  and 
was  instructed  to  discount  six  per  cent,  upon  all  taxes 
paid  on,  or  before,  the  first  day  of  August,  four  per 
cent,  on  taxes  paid  on,  or  before,  the  first  day  of  Novem- 
ber and  two  per  cent,  on  taxes  paid  on,  or  before  Febi-u- 


272  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

ary  1,  1841,  and  to  collect  forthwith  all  taxes  unpaid  at 
the  last  mentioned  date,  either  by  himself  or  deputy. 


Appropriations  in  1840 

Appropriations  for  1840  were  six  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  for  town 
charges,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  support  the 
poor,  two  thousand  dollars  for  making  and  repairing 
roads  to  be  paid  in  labor,  and  a  cash  appropriation  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  same  purpose.  High 
taxes  had  become  the  cause  of  serious  complaint. 
Almost  every  taxpayer  seemed  to  believe  that  his  taxes 
were  relatively  higher  than  those  of  his  neighbor's.  So 
general  was  the  complaint  that  a  citizen  of  waggish 
tendencies  got  an  article  inserted  in  the  call  for  the 
annual  meeting  of  1840  ''to  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to 
let  every  man  assess  his  own  taxes. ' ' 


Fall  Elections,  1840 

The  annual  State  election  was  held  September  14. 
For  governor,  John  Fifield,  Democrat,  received  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  votes.  Edward  Kent,  Whig,  received 
ninety-nine  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Hannibal  Hamlin, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  fifteen  votes. 
Elisha  H.  Allen,  Whig,  received  ninety-nine  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Levi  Bradley, 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  fifteen  votes.  E. 
T.  Morrill,  Whig,  received  ninety-nine  votes. 

There  having  been  no  election  for  representative  to 
the  Legislature  at  first  trial,  a  second  trial  occurred 
October  5,  when  Levi  Bradley  received  one  hundred  and 
nine  votes.      E.  T.  Morrill  received  ninety  votes. 

The  presidential  election  of  1840  was  held  on  Novem- 
ber 2.  The  candidates  were  William  H.  Harrison, 
Whig,  and  Martin  Van  Buren,  Democrat.  The  Harrison 
electors  received  one  hundred  and  one  votes,  and  the 
Van  Buren  electors  received  one  hundred  and  twenty-four 
votes.  In  the  country  at  large  there  was  a  majority  for 
William  H.  Harrison. 


Garland  in  1841 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  1841,  held  March  8, 
Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator;  Charles  Reynolds, 
town  clerk ;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Samuel  W.  Knight  and 
Joseph  True,  selectmen  and  assessors ;  Asa  Barton,  Joseph 
Bartlett  and  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Drake,  superintending 
school  committee,  and  David  Skillin,  collector  and  treas- 
urer. The  compensation  for  collecting  and  disbursing 
was  fixed  at  two  and  one  half  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  were  six  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  support  of  the  poor, 
six  hundred  dollars  to  defray  town  charges,  two  thousand 
dollars  to  make  and  repair  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor, 
also  cash  appropriations  of  two  hundred  dollars  to  be 
expended  on  the  northwest  county  road,  one  hundred 
and  twenty -five  dollars  for  the  Avenue  road,  two  hundred 
dollars  for  the  county  road  leading  to  Dover,  and  fifty 


274  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

dollars  for   a  town  road  in    the  southeast  part  of  the 
town. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  September  13,  of  the  twelve 
items  of  business  acted  on,  seven  related  to  roads. 


The  Fall  Election  of  1841 

The  election  for  State  and  other  officers  was  held  Sep- 
tember 13.  For  governor,  John  Fairfield,  Democrat, 
received  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  votes;  Edw^ard 
Kent,  Whig,  received  one  hundred  and  four  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Charles 
Reynolds,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  votes ;  David  Skillin,  Whig,  received  one  hundred 
and  two  votes;  Josiah  Bartlett,  Anti-Slavery,  received 
three  votes. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  the  year  of  grace,  1841,  a  new 
element  appeared  in  the  politics  of  Garland.  It  was 
significant  that  this  element  began  to  manifest  itself, 
feebly,  indeed,  in  nearly  all  the  voting  precincts  of  the 
free  states-  This  class  of  voters,  together  with  many 
others,  who  were  not  ready  to  sever  the  ties  that  bound 
them  to  old  political  parties,  believed  in  their  simplicity, 
that  the  asseverations  embodied  in  the  declaration  of 
independence,  "that  all  men  are  created  free  and  equal, 
that  they  are  endowed  with  certain  inalienable  rights 
among  which  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happi- 
ness," were  not  simply  rhetorical  flourishes  or  glittering 
generalities  as  politicians  would  have  them  believe,  but 
eternal  verities. 

The  cardinal  article  of  the  creed  of  this  new  party 
was  unalterable  opposition  to  the  further  encroachments 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  275 

of  slavery  upon  the  free  territory  of  the  United  States. 
It  was  not  a  popular  party  in  its  infancy.  Its  votes 
were  classed  as  scattering  in  the  papers  which  meant — 
thrown  away.  It  was  stigmatized  as  "the  party  of  one 
idea. ' '  Nevertheless,  the  force  of  this  one  idea  elected 
Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  presidency  a  few  years  later, 
and  this  event  was  soon  followed  by  the  banishment  of 
the  curse  of  slavery  from  the  United  States. 


The  Avenue  Road 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  town  of  1841,  held  Sep- 
tember 11,  the  question  of  building  the  Avenue  road 
came  up  for  final  action.  The  town  had  remonstrated 
against  laying  it  out,  had  petitioned  for  its  discontinu- 
ance, had  pursued  a  dilatory  policy  in  making  it.  In 
view  of  the  delay,  the  county  commissioners  decided  to 
appoint  an  agent  to  do  the  work,  whereupon  the  town 
voted  to  instruct  the  selectmen  to  begin  the  making  of 
it,  and  to  complete  it  by  the  first  of  October,  1842. 
This  was  satisfactory  to  the  commissioners  who  refrained 
from  further  action.  * 


Garland  in  1842 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1842,  held  March  14, 
Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator;  Lorenzo  Oak, 
town  clerk ;  Nehemiah  Bartlett,  John  I.  D.  Sanford  and 
David  Skillin,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Nehemiah 
Bartlett,  treasurer ;  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Drake,  Lorenzo  Oak 


276  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

and  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  superintending  school  commit- 
tee and  Luther  Rideout,  collector,  whose  compensation 
was  fixed  at  two  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  were  six  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  support  of 
the  poor,  four  hundred  dollars  to  defray  town  charges, 
and  two  thousand  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor. 
Also  cash  appropriations  of  two  hundred  dollars  for  the 
Dover  county  road,  eight  hundred  dollars  for  the  Avenue 
road,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  road  at  Holt's 
Mills. 


Fall  Election  of  1842 

The  annual  election  for  State  and  other  officers  was 
held  September  12.  For  governor,  John  Fairfield, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  five  votes;  Edwin 
Robinson,  Whig,  received  fifty-two  votes;  James 
Appleton,  Anti-Slavery,  received  twenty  votes. 

On  and  after  1842,  Exeter  and  Garland  constituted  a 
Representative  class.  For  representative  to  the  Legis- 
lature, Smith  Libbey,  Democrat,  of  Exeter,  received  one 
hundred  and  three  votes;  S.  M.  Rice,  Anti-Slavery,  of 
Garland,  received  eight  votes. 

As  no  Whig  vote  appears  at  this  trial,  there  seems  to 
have  been  some  irregularity  of  proceeding.  A  second 
trial  to  elect  a  representative  to  the  I^egislature  was 
made  on  October  3,  1842,  when  Smith  Libbey,  Demo- 
crat, received  twenty-one  votes;  John  Cutler,  Whig, 
received  seventeen  votes;  Benjamin  Evans,  Anti  Slavery, 
received  nine  votes. 

There  was  no  election  of  representatives  at  this  trial. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  277 

A  third  trial  to  elect  a  representative  to  the  Legislature 
occurred  on  the  24th  of  October,  when  Smith  Libbey, 
Democrat,  of  Exeter,  received  forty-eight  votes; 
Benjamin  Evans,  Anti-Slavery,  of  Exeter,  received 
twenty-five  votes. 

Mr.  Libbey  was  now  the  successful  candidate. 


A  Notable  Anti- Slavery  Meeting 

Nearly  every  member  of  the  two  leading  churches  of 
Garland,  the  Congregational  and  Free  Baptist,  was 
strongly  anti-slavery  in  sentiment.  In  the  autumn  or 
early  winter  of  1842,  two  prominent  citizens  of  Bangor, 
afterwards  known  as  Judge  John  E.  Godfrey  and  Hon. 
A.  G.  Wakefield,  came  to  Garland  to  address  its  citizens 
in  behalf  of  the  anti-slavery  movement.  The  meeting 
was  held  in  the  Congregational  meeting  house  which  was 
crowded  by  eager  listeners  of  Garland  and  Exeter  to  the 
earnest  appeals  in  behalf  of  the  victims  of  African 
slavery. 


Garland  in  1843 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  184B,  held  March  13,  the 
officers  chosen  were  Joseph  Prescott,  moderator ;  Lorenzo 
Oak,  town  clerk;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Asa  Barton  and 
Joseph  Prescott,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Nehemiah 
Bartlett,  treasurer;  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Drake,  Asa  Barton 
and  Lorenzo  Oak,  superintending  school  committee; 
Luther  Rideout,  collector  of  taxes  at  two  per  cent. 


278  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  appropriations  were  five  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  support  the 
poor,  two  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  two  thous- 
and five  hundred  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor, 
and  cash  appropriations  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  pay 
bills  incurred  the  preceding  year  on  the  Dover  county 
road.  The  care  of  the  poor  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  selectmen. 

The  meeting  to  ballot  for  governor  and  other  officers 
was  held  September  11.  For  governor,  Hugh  J. 
Anderson,  Democrat,  received  ninety -eight  votes ;  Edwin 
Robinson,  Whig,  received  thirty-three  votes;  James 
Appleton,  Anti-Slavery,  received  forty-four  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Hannibal  Hamlin, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  votes ;  Elisha  H.  Allen, 
Whig,  received  thirty-three  votes;  David  Shepherd, 
Anti-Slavery,  received  forty-four  votes. 

The  contest  for  representative  to  the  Legislature  in 
1843  was  the  most  remarkable  of  any  in  the  history  of 
the  town.  Garland  and  Exeter  constituted  a  representa- 
tive class.  Each  town  furnished  the  candidate  for 
legislative  honors  on  each  alternate  year,  and  Garland 
was  the  privileged  town  in  1843.  It  had  been  Demo- 
cratic for  many  years,  and  Democratic  nominees  had  been 
sure  of  large  majorities. 

The  contest  opened  on  the  day  of  the  gubernatorial 
election  when  Nehemiah  Bartlett,  Democrat,  received 
seventy-one  votes;  Luther  Rideout,  Democrat,  received 
thirty-three  votes;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Whig,  received 
thirty-one  votes;  John  P.  Smith,  Liberty  party, 
received  forty-one  votes.      No  choice. 

At  the  second  trial,  October  2,  Luther  Rideout, 
Democrat,  received  seventy-two  votes;  Nehemiah 
Bartlett,  Democrat,  received  sixty-eight  votes ;  John  P. 
Smith,  Liberty  party,  received  eleven  votes.      No  choice. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  279 

At  the  third  trial,  October  23,  Nehemiah  Bartlett, 
Democrat,  received  ninety  votes;  Luther  Rideout,  Dem- 
ocrat, received  eighty-six  votes;  John  P.  Smith,  Liberty 
party,  received  thirteen  votes.      No  choice. 

At  the  fourth  trial,  November  13,  Nehemiah  Bartlett 
received  ninety-eight  votes;  Luther  Rideout  received 
sixty-nine  votes;  Lewis  Goulding  received  twenty-three 
votes.     No  choice. 

At  the  fifth  trial,  December  4,  Nehemiah  Bartlett 
received  one  hundred  and  three  votes ;  Luther  Rideout 
received  eighty-three  votes;  Lewis  Goulding,  Liberty 
party,  received  fourteen  votes.      No  choice. 

At  the  sixth  trial,  the  leading  Democratic  candidates 
having  withdrawn,  Charles  Reynolds,  Democrat,  received 
eighty  votes;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Whig,  received  sixty- 
eight  votes.     No  choice. 

At  the  seventh  trial,  January  15,  1844,  Charles 
Reynolds,  Democrat,  received  sixty-eight  votes;  Daniel 
M.  Haskell,  Whig,  received  sixty-three  votes.  No 
choice. 

At  the  eighth  trial,  February  5,  1844,  Lyndon  Oak, 
Liberty  party,  received  thirty  votes;  Charles  Reynolds, 
Democrat,  received  twenty-nine  votes;  Daniel  M. 
Haskell,  Whig,  received  twenty-eight  votes.     No  choice. 

At  the  ninth  and  final  trial,  February  26,  1844, 
Lyndon  Oak,  Liberty  party,  received  thirty-two  votes; 
Charles  Reynolds,  Democrat,  received  thirteen  votes; 
Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Whig,  received  five  votes. 

An  examination  of  the  result  of  the  ballotings  in  the 
two  towns.  Garland  and  Exeter,  disclosed  the  fact  of 
Mr.  Oak's  election.  The  legislative  session  of  1844 
was  nearing  its  close.  As  soon  as  the  necessary  creden- 
tials were  placed  in  his  hands,  he  started  for  Augusta. 
This  was  before  the  time  of  railroads,  and  the  journey 


280  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

was  made  with  horse  and  sleigh  and  occupied  a  part  of 
two  days. 

On  Thursday  of  the  week  of  his  election,  he  was  duly 
qualified  and  took  the  seat  assigned  him  in  the  Repre- 
sentative hall.  He  believes  himself  to  have  been  the 
first  representative  in  the  Legislature  of  Maine  who  was 
elected  on  the  straight  anti-slavery  issue.  Owing  no 
allegiance  to  either  political  party,  he  was  at  all  times 
free  to  act  as  his  own  j  udgment  dictated.  He  was  some- 
times asked  in  a  spirit  of  derision  when  we  might  expect 
the  abolition  of  slavery  would  be  realized.  His  reply 
in  substance  was,  that  there  might  be  a  long  period  of 
waiting  for  the  event,  but  it  was  sure  to  come.  It 
proved  to  be  much  nearer  than  the  most  sanguine  antici- 
pated. 

As  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
1865,  Mr.  Oak  had  the  satisfaction  of  voting  for  the 
ratification  of  the  thirteenth  amendment  of  the  consti- 
tution of  the  United  States,  which  banished  the  curse  of 
African  slavery  from  this  country,  and  from  all  places 
within  its  jurisdiction. 

There  were  incidents  connected  with  the  protracted 
contest  for  the  election  of  representative  in  1843-4  that 
created  considerable  amusement  for  the  younger  voters. 
One  of  the  candidates  for  legislative  honors  was  so  con- 
fident of  success,  he  had  purchased  a  suit  of  clothes 
befitting  the  position  he  expected  to  occupy,  and  had 
engaged  a  team  to  carry  him  to  Augusta. 


The  Rebuilding  of  the   Long  Bridge 

At  a  special  meeting  held  October  23,  1843,  prelimi- 
nary measures  for  rebuilding  the  long  bridge  near  the 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  281 

viUage  mills  were  adopted.  The  contract  for  rebuilding 
was  awarded  to  a  company  of  three  citizens  of  the  town, 
John  Tewksbury,  James  Pillsbury  and  Orison  Parkman. 
The  timber  for  the  bridge  was  hauled  the  following  win- 
ter, and  it  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1844.  Although 
not  an  elegant  structure,  the  average  cost  per  year  for 
repairs  has  been  very  light. 


A  Remarkable  Religious  Fanaticism 

About  the  year  1 840,  a  Mr.  William  Miller  appeared 
in  eastern  Maine  to  apprise  its  inhabitants  of  the  early 
coming  of  Jesus.  He  asserted  that  the  first  judgment 
would  come  in  1843.  The  enunciation  of  this  theory 
in  1840,  produced  much  excitement  which  grew  in 
intensity  as  the  fateful  year  of  1843  approached,  when  it 
reached  its  culmination. 

The  more  indigent  victims  of  this  belief,  reasoned 
that  if  all  things  earthly  are  to  terminate  in  1843,  all 
we  need  to  do  is  to  provide  ourselves  with  supplies  for 
the  intervening  two  years.  When,  in  1843,  the  great 
day  was  believed  to  be  near,  this  class,  having  been 
reduced  to  absolute  want,  quartered  themselves  upon 
their  more  independent  friends  for  subsistence.  Thus 
large  numbers  of  men,  women  and  children  were  brought 
together  under  a  single  roof  where  the  most  grotesque 
religious  performances  were  indulged  in.  If,  at  the 
midnight  hour,  a  mere  child  expressed  a  desire  to  be 
baptized,  the  whole  company  promptly  appeared  at  the 
water's  side  to  participate  in  the  ceremony.  It  was  not 
uncommon  for  a  zealous  member  of  the  sect  to  be  bap- 
tized several  times.      On  such  occasions,  many  of  them 


282  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

disported  themselves  in  the  water  in  a  manner  not  fully 
in  accord  with  the  solemnity  which  is  expected  at  such 
times. 

Some  of  the  more  thoughtful  and  more  confident, 
spent  their  leisure  in  making  ascension  robes  to  be  used 
on  the  occasion  of  their  "going  up."  One  of  its  dev- 
otees, a  Mr.  became  a  citizen  of  the  town 

early  in  the  thirties,  wrested  a  farm  from  the  forest,  and 
provided  for  himself  and  family  a  good  home. 

By  industry,  economy,  and  good  judgment,  he  had 
taken  rank  with  our  most  independent  and  esteemed 
citizens,  and  had  been  called  to  fill  the  most  important 
town  offices  from  time  to  time.  But  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  he  found  himself  struggling  in  the  current  of 
Millerism  and  his  home  became  the  headquarters  of  its 
devotees  where  everything  from  cellar  to  attic,  and  in  ell, 
shed  and  barn,  was  held  in  common.  When  the  col- 
lapse came  it  brought  with  it  the  consciousness  of  a 
terrible  mistake,  a  loss  of  self-respect,  and  of  courage 
and  of  hope. 

He  soon  became  the  victim  of  inherited  consumptive 
tendencies,  and  passed  from  earth  in  a  different  manner 
from  that  which  he  expected  a  few  brief  years  earlier. 
The  disastrous  results  to  the  one  victim  that  have  been 
narrated  were  experienced  by  others.  Several  who  had 
been  enjoying  a  comfortable  independence,  were  reduced 
to  poverty  by  the  same  process.  The  tendency  of  this 
delusion  to  pauperism  led  to  the  adoption  of  legal 
measures  by  the  municipal  authorities,  to  rid  the  town 
of  irresponsible  leaders  from  other  towns. 

The  Rev.  Leonard  Hutchins,  pastor  of  the  Free 
Baptist  church  and  society,  gave  a  semi-centennial 
address  before  that  organization  in  1875,  in  which  he 
alluded  to  the  disastrous  effects  of  Millerism.  After 
speaking  of  a  period  of  universal  prosperity,  he  says,  "It 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  283 

was  interrupted  by  a  season  of  severe  trial.  Many 
members  abandoned  the  church  and  its  ordinances,  to 
enter  the  ranks  of  a  sect  which  professed  to  beHeve  that 
the  second  coming  of  Christ  was  an  event  to  be  looked 
for  in  the  near  future.  Indeed  the  exact  date  for  this 
great  event  had  been  deternrined  in  the  councils  of 
heaven  and  recorded  in  the  books  of  prophecy. 

"Some  of  the  devotees  of  Millerism  assumed  the  posi- 
tion of  open  enmity  to  the  church  and  to  the  religion  to 
which  they  had  solemnly  pledged  fidelity.  This  con- 
dition of  affairs  resulted  in  great  distraction  to  the 
church  for  several  years.  By  the  exercise  of  wisdom  and 
forbearance  by  the  church,  the  greater  portion  of  those 
who  had  violated  their  church  obligations,  returned  to 
it,  while  the  more  stubborn  persisted  in  their  recreancy 
to  their  church  obligations,  and  were  at  length  excom- 
municated. ' ' 


Garland  in  1844 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1844  the  officers  chosen 
were  Joseph  Prescott,  moderator;  Lorenzo  Oak,  town 
clerk;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Joseph  Prescott  and  Luther 
Rideout,  selectmen;  Lorenzo  Oak,  treasurer;  and  John 
P.  Smith,  collector.  The  compensation  of  the  treasurer 
was  fixed  at  four  mills  per  dollar,  and  that  of  collector 
at  two  per  cent.  Rev.  S.  S.  Drake  and  Lorenzo  Oak 
were  chosen  superintending  school  committee. 

The  appropriations  for  the  year  were  four  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  for  schools,  one  thousand  dollars  for  town 
charges,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollai-s  for  the  poor,  two 
thousand  and  five  hundred  dollars  for  roads  to  be  paid 
in  labor,  and  a  cash  appropriation  for  the  Avenue  road. 


284  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Daniel  Ladd,  Enoch  Huntington  and  Russell  Murdock 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  redistrict  the  town  in 
the  interest  of  the  public  schools.  The  treasurer  was 
instructed  to  hire  five  hundred  dollars  for  use  of  the 
town  at  a  rate  of  interest  not  to  exceed  five  per  cent. 


Autumnal  Election 

The  balloting  for  State  and  other  officers  occurred 
September  9.  For  governor,  Hugh  J.  Anderson, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  twenty  votes; 
Edward  Robinson,  Whig,  received  fifty-three  votes; 
James  Appleton,  Liberty  party,  received  fifty-seven 
votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Hannibal  Hamlin, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  votes; 
Abraham  Sanborn,  Whig,  received  forty-nine  votes ;  Asa 
Walker,  Liberty  party,  received  fifty -six  votes. 

For  State  Senator,  Samuel  W.  Knight,  Liberty 
party,  received  fifty-four  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Chas.  Butters, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  sixteen  votes ;  John 
L.  Hodsdon,  Whig,  received  fifty-five  votes;  Albana 
Pease,  Liberty  party,  received  fifty-six  votes. 

The  Legislature  of  1844  submitted  to  the  towns  of  the 
State  the  following  question:  ''Shall  the  Constitution  of 
Maine  be  so  amended  as  to  make  the  political  year  begin 
on  the  second  Wednesday  in  May  instead  of  the  first 
Wednesday  in  January?"  Garland's  vote  (m  this  ques- 
tion was  seventy-three  in  favor,  and  four  against. 

Upon  the  proposed  amendment  to  establish  town 
courts,   the  result  was  thirty-six  in  favor,    and    forty- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  285 

eight  against.  The  voters  of  the  town  assembled  on 
November  11  to  ballot  for  presidential  electors. 
The  Democratic  candidates  received  one  hundred  and 
eleven,  the  Whig  candidates  forty-seven,  and  the  Liberty 
party  candidates  thirty-five  votes. 


Garland  in  1845 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1845,  held  March  10, 
Russell  Murdock  was  chosen  moderator;  Lorenzo  Oak, 
town  clerk;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Luther  Rideout  and 
Stephen  D.  Jennings,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Lorenzo 
Oak,  treasurer;  and  John  P.  Smith,  collector.  The 
compensation  of  treasurer  was  fixed  at  four  mills  per 
dollar,  and  that  of  the  collector  at  two  per  cent.  Moses 
G.  Gordon,  Jacob  W.  Haskell  and  Jonathan  C. 
Lawrence  were  chosen  superintending  school  committee. 

The  appropriations  were  five  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  poor,  four  hundred 
dollars  for  town  charges,  and  si^  thousand  five  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor.  The 
treasurer  was  instructed  to  hire  five  hundred  dollars  at  a 
rate  not  exceeding  five  per  cent. 


Annual  State  Election 

Of  the  annual  State  election  of  1845,  held  September 
8,  the  records  disclose  the  following  results:  For 
governor,  Hugh  J.  Anderson,  Democrat,  received 
eighty-nine  votes;  Freeman  H.  Morse,  Whig,  thirty-one 


286  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

votes;  Samuel  Fessenden,  Anti-Slavery,  received  forty- 
five  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Stephen  D. 
Jennings,  Democrat,  received  fifty-eight  votes;  Luther 
Rideout,  Democrat,  received  twenty-nine  votes;  Daniel 
M.  Haskell,  Whig,  received  twenty-six  votes;  Lyndon 
Oak,  Anti-Slavery,  received  forty-five  votes. 

The  factional  contest  of  1843  was  renewed  and  the 
result  compared  with  that  at  Exeter  disclosed  a  failure 
to  elect.  A  second  trial,  on  September  29,  also  failed 
to  elect.  At  the  third  trial,  on  October  W,  Lyndon 
Oak  was  elected. 

By  an  amendment  of  the  State  Constitution,  the  begin- 
ning of  the  political  year  had  been  changed  from  the 
first  Wednesday  in  January  to  the  second  Wednesday  in 
May.  The  legislative  session  of  1846  was,  therefore, 
held  in  summer  instead  of  winter.  The  members  elected 
on  the  anti-slavery  issue  had  increased  from  one  in  1844 
to  seven  in  1846. 

But  this  was  only  a  slight  indication  of  the  growth  of 
the  anti-slavery  sentiment  at  that  time.  The  Demo- 
cratic speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  Hon. 
Ebenezer  Knowlton,  entered  the  Anti-Slavery  ranks  soon 
after.  A  large  majority  of  the  Whigs  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  1846  were  opposed  to  any  further  concessions  to 
slavery. 

The  Legislature  of  1846  was  visited  by  Joshua  R. 
Giddings,  the  robust  and  fearless  opponent  of  slavery, 
and  member  of  Congress  from  Ohio.  The  object  of  his 
visit  was  to  bring  into  unity  of  political  effort  all  the 
opponents  of  slavery.  He  had  interviews  with  the  lead- 
ing Whigs  of  the  Legislature.  As  a  result  a  resolution 
was  presented  in  the  House  by  an  Anti-Slavery  member, 
declaring  in  substance  that  the  question  of  the  extension 
of  slavery  was  of  more  importance  than  any  other  before 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  287 

the  American  people.  This  resolution  was  supported  in 
a  vigorous  speech  by  Hon.  Elisha  H.  Allen  of  Bangor, 
and  it  received  the  votes  of  a  majority  of  the  Whig 
members. 


Garland  in  1846 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1846,  held  March  9, 
Stephen  D.  Jennings  was  chosen  moderator;  Lorenzo 
Oak,  town  clerk;  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Luther  Rideout 
and  Stephen  D.  Jennings,  selectmen  and  assessors; 
Lorenzo  Oak,  treasurer;  Luther  Rideout,  collector;  and 
Moses  G.  Gordon,  Stephen  D.  Jennings  and  Joseph  T. 
Knight,  superintending  school  committee.  The  com- 
pensation of  the  treasurer  was  five  mills  per  dollar,  and 
that  of  the  collector  two  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  were  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
for  schools,  four  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  three 
hundred  dollars  for  the  poor,  and  two  thousand,  five 
hundred  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor. 


State  Election  of  1846 

The  State  election  of  1846  was  held  September  14. 
For  governor,  John  W.  Dana,  Democrat,  received 
seventy-three  votes;  Samuel  Fessenden,  Anti-Slavery, 
received  sixty-eight  votes;  David  Bronson,  Whig, 
received  twenty  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  James  S.  Wiley, 
Democrat,  received  seventv-three  votes ;  Jeremiah  Curtis, 


S88  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Anti-Slavery,  received  sixty-nine  votes;  Sanford  Kings- 
bury, Whig,  received  twenty  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  John  Walker, 
Anti-Slavery,  received  seventy-one  votes;  Samuel  L. 
Woodman,  Democrat,  received  sixty-eight  votes;  John 
L.  Hodsdon,  Whig,  received  twenty  votes. 

No  choice  of  representative  to  the  Legislature.  The 
second  trial,  October  5,  was  fruitless.  The  third  trial, 
October  26,  was  fruitless.  On  the  fourth  trial,  Wm. 
Palmer  of  Exeter  was  elected. 

In  1846,  Samuel  S.  Clark,  then  a  recent  and  valuable 
accession  to  the  citizenship  of  the  town,  entered  into 
partnership  with  Lorenzo  and  Lyndon  Oak,  for  the 
manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  under  the  firm  name  of 
S.  S.  Clark  &  Co.  A  special  feature  of  their  work  was 
the  manufacture  of  lumbermen's  boots.  The  excellent 
quality  of  their  goods  soon  gave  them  a  reputation  that 
created  a  brisk  demand  in  this  and  adjoining  towns. 
This  was  followed  by  a  wholesale  business  with  merchants 
in  many  of  the  towns  of  Penobscot  and  Piscataquis  and 
other  counties. 


Garland  in  1847 

The  annual  meeting  of  1847  was  held  March  8. 
Joseph  Prescott  was  chosen  moderator.  The  officers  for 
the  year  were,  Lorenzo  Oak,  town  clerk;  Daniel  M. 
Haskell,  Luther  Rideout  and  David  Pierce,  selectmen; 
Lorenzo  Oak,  treasurer ;  John  Bartlett,  collector.  The 
compensation  of  the  treasurer  was  fixed  at  five  mills  per 
dollar,  and  that  of  the  collector  at  two  and  one  fourth 
per  cent.  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Edson  L.  Oak  and 
Lorenzo  Oak    were  chosen  superintending    school  com- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  289 

mittee.  The  appropriations  were  five  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  for  schools,  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  support 
of  the  poor,  three  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  and 
two  thousand,  five  hundred  dollars  for  roads. 


Town  House 

Preparations  preliminary  to  the  building  of  a  town 
house  were  entered  upon  in  1847.  The  question  of  loca- 
tion provided  much  discussion.  Town  meetings,  religious 
meetings  and  all  important  meetings  had  been  held  at 
the  schoolhouse  at  the  geographical  center  of  the  town 
since  the  year  1816.  Long  existing  associations  favored 
this  location.  It  was  claimed  that  fair  dealing  with  the 
inhabitants  of  the  northern  and  northeastern  sections  of 
the  town,  demanded  that  the  building  should  occupy  a 
site  at  its  geographical  center. 

Tlie  opposing  contention  was  that  the  building  should 
be  located  at  the  center  of  the  village,  one  mile  south  of 
the  geographical  center.  In  inclement  weather,  citizens 
would  be  afforded  opportunities  to  shelter  their  teams 
within  the  building  at  the  village.  Many  of  the  strong- 
est objectors  to  location  in  the  village,  would  embrace  the 
opportunity  afforded  by  the  town  meeting  to  visit  the 
stores  and  shops  in  the  village,  even  if  the  building 
should  be  located  one  mile  away  from  the  geographical 
center.  Such  considerations  led  to  the.  selection  of  the 
village  site. 

Aaron  Hill,  Luther  Rideout,  Daniel  M.  Haskell, 
Russell  Murdock  and  Lyndon  Oak  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  select  and  purchase  a  site  in  the  village  for 


290  HISTOEY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

the  proposed  building.  Joseph  Prescott,  Luther  Ride- 
out  and  Samuel  Skillin  were  charged  with  the  duty  of 
preparing  plans  for  the  building  and  providing  for  its 
construction  by  contract,  which  in  due  time,  was  awarded 
to  L.  &  L.  Oak  &  Co.  In  the  summer  of  the  following 
year,  1848,  the  building  was  completed  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  building  committee. 


State  Election  of  1847 

The  State  election  of  1847  occurred  September  13. 
For  governor,  John  W.  Dana,  Democrat,  received 
eighty-four  votes;  Samuel  Fessenden,  Anti-Slavery, 
received  seventy-three  votes;  David  Bronson,  Whig, 
received  twenty-six  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  James  S.  Wiley, 
Democrat,  received  eighty-one  votes;  Jeremiah  Curtis, 
Anti-Slavery,  received  seventy-eight  votes;  Sanford 
Kingsbury,  Whig,  received  twenty-seven  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  l^egislature,  Moses  Ames, 
Anti-Slavery,  received  eighty-seven  votes;  Stephen  D. 
Jennings,  Democrat,  received  sixty-seven  votes;  Andrew 
M.  Haskell,  Whig,  received  twenty-three  votes. 

A  second  trial  for  the  election  of  a  representative  to 
the  Legislature  occurred  on  October  4,  when  the  result 
disclosed  that  Stephen  D.  Jennings  had  eighty -four 
votes,  Moses  Ames  had  seventy-three  and  A.  M.  Haskell 
had  eleven. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  291 

Action  of  the  Town  on  Proposed  Amendments 
of  the  State  Constitution 

1st.  On  the  question  of  electing  governor  by  a  plu- 
rahty  of  votes,  yeas  sixty-four,  nays  twenty-one. 

2d.  On  the  question  of  electing  senators  by  a  plu- 
rality of  votes,  yeas  forty-nine,  nays  nineteen. 

3d.  On  the  question  of  electing  representatives  by  a 
plurality  of  votes,  yeas  forty-four,  nays  eleven. 

4th.  On  the  question  of  limiting  the  credit  of  the 
State  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  three  hundred  thous- 
and dollars,  yeas  sixty-five,  nays  one. 


Garland  in  1848 

From  1816  to  1848  the  annual  March  and  September 
meetings  had  been  held  at  the  Center  schoolhouse.  In 
1848,  the  March  meeting  was  held  in  the  Congregational 
meeting  house.  Nehemiah  Bartlett  was  chosen  moder- 
ator. The  officers  for  the  year  were  Charles  Reynolds, 
town  clerk ;  Nehemiah  Bartlett,  Aaron  Hill  and  Joseph 
Vickery,  selectmen;  Lorenzo  Oak,  treasurer;  James  J. 
Chandler,  collector,  and  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  Edson  L. 
Oak  and  Edward  H.  Pierce,  superintending  school  com- 
mittee. 

The  appropriations  were  five  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars for  schools,  six  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges, 
four  hundred  dollars  for  the  support  of  the  poor,  and 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor. 
The  treasurer  was  instructed  to  hire  five  hundred  dollars 
for  the  use  of  the  town. 


292  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


State  Election  in  1848 

The  State  election  of  1848  was  held  in  the  town 
house  for  the  first  time.  All  such  elections  had  been 
held  in  the  Center  schoolhouse  from  1816  to  1848. 
For  governor,  John  W.  Dana,  Democrat,  received  ninety- 
three  votes;  Samuel  Fessenden,  Anti-Slaverv,  received 
seventy-six  votes;  Elijah  Hamlin,  Whig,  received  thirty- 
one  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Charles  Stetson,  Dem- 
ocrat, received  ninety  votes;  Jeremiah  Curtis,  Anti- 
Slavery,  received  seventy-eight  votes;  Israel  Washburn, 
Whig,  received  thirty-one  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  State  Legislature,  Simeon 
Butters,  Anti-Slavery,  received  ninety-four  votes;  Isaiah 
Avery,  Democrat,  received  eighty-five  votes;  Jeremiah 
Garvin,  Whig,  received  sixteen  votes. 

For  presidential  electors,  (election,  November  17,) 
the  Democratic  candidates  received  one  hundred  and 
eight  votes;  the  Anti-Slavery  candidates  received  fifty- 
eight  votes;  the  Whig  candidates  received  forty-one 
votes. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  Anti-Slavery  vote,  which 
had  been  on  the  increase  for  several  years,  fell  off  largely 
at  the  presidential  election  of  1848.  This  was  due  to 
the  fact  that  the  Anti-Slavery  candidate,  Martin  Van 
Buren,  did  not  come  up  to  the  ideal  of  many  of  the 
Anti-Slavery  voters  of  the  time. 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  298 


The  First  High  School  in  Garland 

The  first  high  school  in  Garland  was  opened  under 
the  instruction  of  Lyndon  Oak,  in  the  autumn  of  1848, 
in  the  new  town  house  which  had  just  been  completed. 
There  were  many  bright  girls  and  boys  in  town  who  were 
thirsting  for  instruction  that  was  not  afforded  by  the 
district  school.  The  satisfactory  attendance  at  this  first 
tei-m,  inspired  the  hope  that  the  school  might  be  per- 
petuated, but  there  was  no  fund  for  its  support.  The 
town  refused  aid,  and  no  help  could  be  expected  from 
the  State. 

At  this  juncture  a  young  man  of  the  name  of  Bryant, 
a  brother  of  the  late  Mrs.  Thomas  Dearborn,  who  was 
on  a  visit  here,  offered  to  take  the  school,  and  accept  its 
patronage  as  compensation  in  full  for  his  services.  His 
offer    was  accepted,  and  the  result  proved  satisfactory. 

The  success  of  these  preliminary  efforts  inspired  the 
belief  that  with  care  in  the  selection  of  teachers,  who 
combined  ability  to  instruct  with  attractive  personal 
qualities,  the  patronage  of  the  school  would  nearly,  or 
quite,  pay  its  expenses.  If,  at  any  time,  a  deficit  should 
occur,  a  few  citizens  of  the  village  were  pledged  to  pay 
it.  Under  the  conditions  which  have  been  indicated, 
the  school  was  maintained  through  a  period  of  fifteen 
years  with  a  draft  of  only  five  dollars  upon  private  funds. 
The  school  w£is  but  little  known  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  town,  but  there  are  many  men  and  women  who  have 
been,  and  are  now  filling  useful  and  responsible  stations, 
who  are  glad  to  acknowledge  the  usefulness  to  them- 
selves of  the  Garland  High  School  of  years  ago.  It  had 
the  effect  of  raising  the  standard  of  the  district  schools 
through  the  town.  The  teacher  of  the  autumnal  term 
was  often  retained  as  teacher  in  the  winter  term  of  the 


294  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

district  school,  to  which  advanced  scholars  of  other  dis- 
tricts had  free  access. 


A  Tornado 

A  tornado  of  terrible  force  passed  through  the  north- 
erly section  of  Garland  in  the  midsummer  of  1848. 
Originating  in  the  town  of  Ripley,  it  passed  in  an  east- 
erly direction,  veering  slightly  to  the  north,  through 
Dexter  and  the  northerly  section  of  Garland  into  Atkin- 
son. It  was  narrow  of  scope,  but  of  irresistible  force, 
demolishing  buildings,  trees,  and  making  a  violent  dis- 
turbance of  everything  that  lay  in  its  way.  Fortunately 
for  Garland,  no  buildings  were  completely  wrecked,  but 
several  mill  logs  in  front  of  the  Harriman  house,  in 
school  district  No.  1,  were  turned  end  for  end,  and  one 
had  the  distinction  of  being  deposited  on  the  roof  of 
Mr.  Harri man's  house.  The  barn  connected  with  this 
house  was  turned  half  way  round.  A  well  known  citi- 
zen of  Garland  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  a  barn 
door  made  a  mid-air  trip  from  Ripley  over  the  towns 
of  Dexter  and  Garland  into  Atkinson. 

The  following  slip  from  a  newspaper  describing  one  of 
the  freaks  of  the  tornado  of  1848,  whether  fiction  or 
fact,  is  not  more  remarkable  than  many  well  authenti- 
cated stories  connected  with  it: 

''It  is  related  of  Lamont  Downing  that  in  1848,  one 
pleasant  summer's  day,  he  was  trudging  along  the  high- 
way north  of  the  pond  near  the  line  between  Dexter  and 
Ripley,  when  a  hurricane  came  over  the  hills  from  the 
west.  The  air  was  oppressive  and  sulphurous  and  the 
sky  black  as  ink.  The  path  of  the  cloud  was  marked  by 
all  sorts  of  things  from  the  Ripley  farmhouses,  flying 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  295 

overhead.  The  next  thing  the  lad  knew,  he  was  caught 
up  also  and  went  sailing  awky  with  the  rest  of  the  flyers. 
Fortunately  for  him  he  had  not  gone  far  when  he  came 
into  the  thick  top  of  a  big  elm  tree  which  was  twisted 
and  wrung  by  the  cyclone,  and  to  this  he  clung  with  all 
his  might.  When  the  storm  was  past  and  folks  came 
looking  around  to  find  who  was  killed,  they  discovered 
the  boy  lodged  in  the  tree  and  had  to  get  ladders  to  get 
him  down  from  the  perilous  place." 

On  the  day  of  the  tornado  the  writer,  accompanied  by 
a  friend,  was  at  Silver's  Mills  in  Northeast  Dexter,  after 
a  load  of  lumber  for  the  Garland  town  house,  then  in 
process  of  construction.  The  lumber  had  been  loaded, 
and  the  team  was  ready  to  start,  when  the  sudden 
appearance  of  a  fearful  looking  cloud,  surcharged  with 
the  wrecks  of  houses  and  bams,  pig  pens  and  hen  coops, 
driven  forward  on  the  "wings  of  the  wind"  with  terri- 
ble velocity,  suggested  the  propriety  of  a  temporary 
halt,  llie  storm  having  passed,  the  team  was  started, 
but  it  soon  came  to  an  enforced  halt  by  trees  that  had 
been  blown  across  the  road.  Axemen  soon  came  to  our 
relief  and  i-emoved  the  obstruction  which  enabled  us  to 
get  our  load  of  lumber  safely  to  its  destination. 


Garland  in  1849 

The  annual  meeting  for  the  transaction  of  town  busi- 
ness was  held  in  the  new  town  hall  on  March  12. 
Lyndon  Oak  was  chosen  moderator.  The  officers  for  the 
year  were  Charles  Reynolds,  town  clerk;  Daniel  M. 
Haskell,  Luther  Rideout  and  Andrew  M.  Haskell,  select- 
men and  assessors;    Lorenzo  Oak,   treasurer;   James  J. 


296  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

Chandler,  collector;  Joseph  T.  Knight,  Edward  H. 
Pierce  and  Daniel  M.  Haskell,  superintending  school 
committee.  The  compensation  of  the  treasurer  for 
keeping  and  disbursing  money  was  fixed  at  five  mills  per 
dollar,  and  of  the  collector,  James  J.  Chandler,  two  and 
one  half  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  for  the  year  were  six  hundred  dol- 
lars for  schools,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  town 
charges,  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  support 
of  the  poor  and  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for 
roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor.  A  special  meeting  was  held 
on  May  3,  at  which  Aaron  Hill,  Lyndon  Oak  and 
Stephen  D.  Jennings  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
cooperate  with  committees  of  Charleston,  Dover  and 
Corinth  in  effbrts  to  effect  the  discontinuance  of  the 
northeast  county  road  which  was  laid  out  in  1846. 

The  State  election  was  held  September  10,  1849.  For 
governor,  John  Hubbard,  Democrat,  received  one  hun- 
dred and  eleven  votes;  Elijah  L.  Hamlin,  Whig, 
received  forty-two  votes;  George  F.  Talbot,  Anti- 
Slavery,  received  fifty  votes. 

John  Hubbard  was  the  successful  candidate  for  gov- 
ernor. Hon.  Nehemiah  Bartlett  of  Garland  was  elected 
State  senator.  For  representative  to  the  Legislature, 
Loring  D.  Hayes,  Democrat,  received  sixty-nine  votes; 
George  Curtis,  Anti-Slavery,  received  sixty-seven  votes; 
Daniel  M.  Haskell,   Whig,  received  thirty-eight  votes. 

Loring  Hayes  had  a  majority  of  the  votes  in  the  class, 
and  was  elected.  At  a  meeting  for  town  business  on  the 
day  of  the  State  election,  (September  10)  Lyndon  Oak, 
George  Curtis  and  Samuel  W.  Knight  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  select  a  location  for  a  cemetery,  the  site  of 
which  should  be  in  convenient  proximity  to  the  village. 
As  the  result  of  this  action,  the  cemetery  now  known  as 
'*Maple  Grove  Cemetery"  was  estabHshed. 


HISTOEY    OF    6ASLAND,     MAINE  297 


Garland  in  1850 

The  annual  town  meeting  of  1850  was  held  March  11. 
Andrew  M.  Haskell  was  chosen  moderator.  The  officers 
for  the  year  were  Charles  Reynolds,  town  clerk ;  Daniel 
M.  Haskell,  Sylvester  Abbott  and  Andrew  M.  Haskell, 
selectmen  and  assessors;  Charles  Reynolds,  treasurer, 
whose  compensation  was  fixed  at  two  mills  per  dollar ; 
James  J.  Chandler,  collector,  compensation  two  and  one 
half  per  cent. ;  Joseph  T.  Knight,  E.  H.  Pierce  and 
Moses  G.  Gordon,  superintending  school  committee. 

The  appropriations  were  six  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  three  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  three 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  poor,  twelve  hundred 
dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor,  and  a  cash  appro- 
priation of  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  same  purpose. 
The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  appoint  an  agent  to 
expend  the  cash  appropriation. 


Autumnal  Elections  of  1850 

The  meeting  for  the  election  of  governor  and  other 
officers  was  held  September  9.  For  governor,  John 
Hubbard,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  twenty 
votes;  William  G.  Crosby,  Whig,  received  fifty-seven 
votes;  George  F.  Talbot,  Anti-Slavery,  received  nineteen 
votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Hastings  Strickland 
received  nineteen  votes;  Israel  Washburn,  Jr.,  received 
sixty -nine  votes;  Charles  Stetson  received  one  hundred 
and  seven  votes. 

For      representative     to     the     Legislature,      Samuel 


298  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Woodman,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  thirty 
votes;  John  L.  Hodsdon,  Whig,  received  fifty-eight 
votes;  Simeon  Butters,  Anti-Slavery,  received  six  votes. 


Garland  in  the  Contest  for  United  States  Sen- 
ator in  1850 

In  1850,  Loring  D.  Hayes,  Esq.,  of  Garland,  repre- 
sented his  class  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 
Another  citizen  of  Garland,  Hon.  Nehemiah  Bartlett, 
was  a  member  of  the  Senate.  At  this  session  of  the 
Legislature  there  occurred  a  political  contest  of  the 
gravest  character. 

It  involved  the  question  whether  the  influence  of  the 
State  of  Maine  should  be  used  for,  or  against,  the  fur- 
ther extension  of  slavery.  The  parties  to  this  contest 
were  the  hunker  Democrats,  who  with  pliant  knees  were 
ready  to  kneel  to  the  behests  of  the  slave  power,  on  the 
one  side,  and  the  Democrats  who  were  unalterably 
opposed  to  yielding  another  acre  to  the  withering  blast 
of  slavery,  on  the  other  side.  The  candidate  of  the 
opponents  of  slavery  was  Hannibal  Hamlin. 

Mr.  Hamlin  had  made  himself  obnoxious  to  the  slave 
power  by  his  earnest  and  uncompromising  opposition  to 
the  further  spread  of  slavery.  One  of  his  most  grievous 
off'ences  was  that  he  had  instigated  the  passage  of  a 
resolve  by  a  previous  Legislature,  instructing  Maine's 
delegation  in  Congress  to  oppose  all  measures  favoring 
the  extension  of  slavery. 

The  balloting,  which  began  on  June  20,  was  followed 
by  a  long  and  exciting  contest.  As  it  progressed,  Anti-^ 
Slavites,  Whigs  and  Free  Soilers,  were  drawn  to  the  sup- 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  299 

port  of  Mr.  Hamlin.  The  balloting  which  began  June 
20,  was  terminated  by  a  dramatic  incident  on  July  25. 
On  the  first  ballot  of  that  dav,  Mr.  Hamlin  lacked  one 
vote  of  an  election  in  the  House.  Loring  D.  Hayes, 
member  of  the  House  from  Garland,  was  an  enthusiastic 
friend  of  Mr.  Hamlin,  but,  unfortunately,  he  was  dan- 
gerously sick  with  typhoid  fever  at  his  boarding-house. 
He  had  sent  word  to  friends,  "Any  time  my  vote  will 
elect  Hannibal  Hamlin  to  the  United  States  Senate,  I 
will  come  to  the  House  if  you  have  to  carry  me  on  my 
dying  bed." 

When  the  result  of  the  first  ballot  was  announced,  a 
score  or  more  of  men  dashed  out  of  the  House  in  an 
instant,  and  bolted  into  Hayes'  room.  Picking  him  up, 
bed  and  all,  thev  moved  as  fast  as  it  was  safe  to  the 
House.  When  they  appeared  with  the  sick  man  on  his 
bed,  pandemonium  reigned  for  a  time  among  the  Anti- 
Slavery  Democrats,  llie  next  ballot  was  taken  amidst 
breathless  excitement,  and  when  it  was  announced  that 
Mr.  Hamlin  was  elected  on  the  part  of  the  House,  his 
friends  were  wild  with  joy. 

Mr.  Hamlin's  election  in  the  House  was  soon  followed 
by  his  election  in  the  Senate.  The  importance  of  this 
result  will  be  appreciated  when  it  is  remembered  that  the 
following  two  national  administrations  were  completely 
dominated  by  the  slave  power.  The  writer  is  mainly 
indebted  to  the  Life  and  Times  of  Hannibal  Hamlin  for 
the  facts  contained  in  this  sketch. 


Garland  in  1851 

The  annual    meeting  of    1851   was  held    March    10. 
Lyndon  Oak  was  chosen  moderator.      The  officers  for  the 


300  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

year  were,  Lorenzo  Oak,  town  clerk;  Luther  Rideout, 
Daniel  Silver  and  Andrew  M.  Haskell,  selectmen  and 
assessors;  Lorenzo  Oak,  treasurer,  compensation  for 
receiving  and  disbursing,  five  mills  per  dollar;  Samuel 
W.  Knight,  collector,  compensation  nineteen  mills  per 
dollar;  superintending  school  committee,  Daniel  M. 
Haskell,  Edward  H.  Pierce  and  Lorenzo  Oak. 

The  appropriations  were  six  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  four  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  two  hun- 
dred dollars  to  support  the  poor  and  two  thousand  dol- 
lars for  highways. 


Garland  in  1852 

The  annual  meeting  of  1852  was  held  on  the  eighth 
day  of  March.  Stephen  D.  Jennings  was  chosen  moder- 
ator. The  officers  for  the  year  were,  William  F. 
Haskell,  town  clerk ;  Andrew  M.  Haskell,  Daniel  Silver 
and  John  K.  Haskell,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Lorenzo 
Oak,  treasurer,  compensation  five  mills  per  dollar ;  James 
J.  Chandler,  collector,  compensation  eighteen  mills  per 
dollar;  Joseph  T.  Knight,  superintending  school  com- 
mittee. 

The  appropriations  for  1852  were  six  hundred  dollars 
for  schools,  three  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  poor,  two  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor,  and  a  cash 
appropriation  of  one  hundred  dollars. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  301 


Autumnal  Elections  of  1852 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  September  13, 
1852,  to  ballot  for  governor  and  other  officers.  For 
governor,  John  Hubbard,  Democrat,  received  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  votes;  WiUiam  G.  Crosby,  Whig,  received 
sixty-one  votes;  Ezekiel  Holmes  received  eight  votes; 
Anson  G.  Chandler  received  eighty-five  votes. 

WiUiam  Crosby  was  elected  governor. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Israel  Washburn, 
Whig,  received  one  hundred  and  eighteen  votes ;  Isaiah 
Waterhouse,  Democrat,  received  sixty  votes;  Hastings 
Strickland,  Democrat,  received  eighty-one  votes. 

Israel  Washburn  was  the  successful  candidate. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Luther  Rideout 
received  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  votes;  Joseph  T. 
Knight  received  one  hundred  and  eleven  votes. 

The  town  balloted  for  presidential  electors  on  Novem- 
ber 2,  1852,  when  the  Democratic  candidate  received 
ninety-three  votes,  the  Anti-Slavery  candidate,  sixty 
votes  and  the  Whig  candidate  received  thirty-eight 
votes. 


Garland  in  1853 

The  annual  town  meeting  of  1853  was  held  on  March 
14.  Stephen  D.  Jennings  was  chosen  moderator.  The 
officers  for  the  year  were,  Lorenzo  Oak,  town  clerk; 
Andrew  M.  Haskell,  S.  D.  Jennings  and  Eleazer 
Bumham,  selectmen  and  assessors;  Lorenzo  Oak,  town 
treasurer;  E.  H.  Pierce,  superintending  school  commit- 


302  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

tee;  Jacob  W.  Haskell,  collector  of  taxes,  compensation 
two  per  cent.  The  selectmen  were  appointed  highway 
surveyors  and  field-drivers. 

The  appropriations  for  1853  were  six  hundred  dollars 
for  schools,  three  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  three 
hundred  dollars  for  the  poor  and  one  thousand  nine 
hundred  dollars  for  highways.  Lyndon  Oak,  Luther 
Rideout  and  Daniel  M.  Haskell  were  appointed  to  ascer- 
tain whether  a  suitable  home  for  the  residence  of  the 
poor  could  be  procured  at  reasonable  cost. 


Autumnal  Elections  of  1853 

For  governor,  William  G.  Crosby,  Whig,  received 
forty -five  votes;  Anson  P.  Morrill,  Temperance  and 
Anti-Slavery,  received  fifty-seven  votes ;  Ezekiel  Holmes, 
received  sixty-one  votes;  Albert  Pillsbury,  Democrat, 
received  ninety-three  votes. 

For  county  commissioner,  Daniel  M.  Haskell  received 
one  hundred  and  forty-one  votes;  Joseph  Chadbourne 
received  one  hundred  and  two  votes;  Francis  W.  Hill 
received  ten  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Allen  C. 
Tibbetts  received  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  votes; 
Thomas  K.  Holt  received  one  hundred  and  four  votes. 

Mr.  Holt  received  a  majority  in  the  class. 


Garland  in  1854 

The  annual    meeting    of   1854  was  held    March  13. 
Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  moderator.      The  officers 


mSTOUY  OF  GARLAND,  MAINE  303 

for  the  year  were,  William  F.  Haskell,  town  clerk ;  John 
G.  Jones,  Joseph  F.  Knight  and  John  K.  Haskell,  select- 
men and  assessors;  Lorenzo  Oak,  treasurer;  Jacob  W. 
Haskell,  collector  of  taxes.  Compensation  of  treasurer 
for  receiving  and  disbursing  was  fixed  at  five  mills  per 
dollar.      Compensation  of  collector  was  two  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  of  1854  were  for  schools,  seven 
hundred  dollars;  for  town  charges,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars;  for  support  of  the  poor,  three  hundred 
dollars,  and  two  thousand  six  hundred  dollars  for  high- 
ways. Highway  surveyors  were  authorized  to  bargain 
with  real  estate  owners,  who  held  lands  bordering  upon 
badly  drifting  roads,  to  reduce  the  height  of  their  fences 
to  lessen  the  tendency  of  snow  to  drift. 

The  town  voted  to  remonstrate  against  the  repeal  of 
the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  the  selectmen  and  town 
clerk  were  instructed  to  formulate  and  forwai-d  the  remon- 
strance. There  was  an  article  in  the  warrant  calling  the 
meeting,  to  see  if  the  town  would  vote  to  purchase  a 
hearse.  The  action  upon  this  article  was  to  leave  the 
matter  to  the  judgment  of  the  selectmen  and  clerk. 
This  was  the  first  action  of  the  town  relating  to  the 
purchase  of  a  hearse. 


The  Autumnal  Elections 

For  governor,  Anson  P.  Morrill,  Temperance  and 
Anti-Slavery,  received  one  hundred  and  thirty  votes; 
Albion  K.  Parris,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and 
twelve  votes;  Isaac  Reed,  Whig,  received  twenty -eight 
votes. 

Mr.  Morrill  was  elected. 


304  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Israel  Washburn,  Jr., 
Whig,  received  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  votes; 
Samuel  H.  Blake,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and 
thirteen  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  State  Legislature,  Lyndon 
Oak,  Anti-Slavery,  received  one  hundred  and  thirty-four 
votes ;  Thomas  K.  Holt,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  votes. 

Mr.  Holt  received  a  majority  of  the  votes  in  the 
class. 


Garland  in  1855 

The  annual  meeting  of  1855  was  held  March  12. 
Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  moderator.  The  officers 
for  the  year  were,  William  F.  Haskell,  town  clerk ;  A. 
M.  Haskell,  John  Batchelder  and  William  S.  Haskell, 
selectmen  and  assessors;  Lorenzo  Oak,  treasurer;  Jacob 
W.  Haskell,  collector;  J.  C.  Lawrence,  superintending 
school  committee.  The  compensation  of  the  treasurer 
was  one  half  of  one  per  cent.,  and  that  of  the  collector 
two  and  one  half  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  of  1855  were  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars for  schools,  five  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges, 
two  hundred  dollars  for  the  poor,  two  thousand  dollars 
for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor,  and  a  cash  appropriation 
of  one  hundred  dollars. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  305 


Autumnal  Elections 

The  autumnal  elections  of  1855  were  held  September 
10.  For  governor,  Anson  P.  Morrill,  Temperance  and 
Anti-Slavery,  received  one  hundred  and  seventy-one 
votes;  Samuel  Wells,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred 
and  one  votes;  Isaac  Reed,  Whig,  received  nineteen 
votes. 

For  senators,  William  R.  Hersey  received  one  hundred 
and  seventy- three  votes;  Abner  R.  HaUowell  received  one 
hundred  and  seventy-three  votes ;  Lyndon  Oak,  received 
one  hundred  and  seventy-two  votes;  the  Democratic  can- 
didate received  one  hundred  and  one  votes;  the  Whig 
candidate  received  nineteen  votes. 

The  Democratic  candidates  were  elected. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Noah  Barker 
received  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  votes ;  F.  W.  Hill 
received  one  hundred  and  seventeen  votes. 


Garland  in  1856 

The  annual  meeting  of  1856  was  held  on  March  10. 
Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  moderator.  The  officers 
for  the  year  were,  Isaac  W.  Haskell,  clerk;  Lorenzo 
Oak,  William  S.  Haskell  and  Noah  W.  Johnson,  select- 
men and  assessors;  Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer;  Amasa 
Hatch,  Jr.,  superintending  school  committee.  Leonard 
Skillin,  collector  of  taxes,  compensation  two  and  one 
half  per  cent. 

It  was  voted  to  raise  the  sum  required  by  law  for 
schools,  one  thousand  dollars  for  town  charges,  three 
hundred  dollars  to  support  the  poor,  two  thousand  three 


306  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

hundred  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor,  and  cash 
appropriations  of  one  hundred  dollars  each,  to  be 
expended  on  the  northerly  end  of  the  North  road,  and  a 
like  sum  for  the  county  road  from  Holt's  Mills  to  the 
eastern  line  of  the  town. 


Clouds  in  the  Political  Horizon 

Ominous  clouds  rising  from  the  southern  political 
horizon  were  viewed  with  apprehension  by  the  citizens 
of  every  northern  state.  The  slave  power  of  the  South 
had  long  been  engaged  in  the  desperate  attempt  to  break 
down  the  barriers  that  protected  the  northern  states  from 
the  curse  of  slavery,  and  now,  the  national  adminis- 
tration was  pledged  to  aid  in  this  attempt. 

At  this  juncture  the  political  party,  known  as  the 
Republican  party  of  Maine,  was  originated. 

It  drew  into  its  ranks  reciniits  from  all  political 
parties. 

United  States  Senator  Hannibal  Hamlin,  who  had 
always  exerted  his  transcendent  powers  of  intellect  and 
influence  in  opposition  to  the  inroads  of  slavery  upon 
free  soil,  was  induced  to  accept  the  nomination  for  gov- 
ernor. Entering  at  once  upon  the  work  of  the  cam- 
paign, he  addressed  large  and  enthusiastic  crowds  at  the 
centers  of  population  through  the  State. 


Autumnal  Elections  of  1856 

For  governor,  Hannibal  Hamlin,  Republican,  received 
one   hundred   and    ninety-three    votes;    Samuel   Wells, 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  307 

Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  three  votes ;  George 
F.  Patten,  Straight  Whig,  received  seven  votes.  Mr. 
Hamlin  was  elected. 

For  State  senators,  William  R.  Hersey,  Republican, 
received  one  hundred  and  ninety-four  votes;  Abner  R. 
Hersey,  Republican,  received  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
four  votes ;  Lyndon  Oak,  Republican,  received  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-four  votes;  Amos  M.  Roberts,  Demo- 
crat, received  one  hundred  and  four  votes ;  Stephen  D. 
Jennings,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  four 
votes;  O.  Pearson,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and 
four  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Israel  Washburn,  Jr., 
Republican,  received  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  votes; 
Abraham  Sanborn,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and 
two  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Artemas 
Merriam,  Republican,  received  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
three  votes;  Thomas  K.  Holt,  Democrat,  received  one 
hundred  and  eight  votes. 

Mr.  Merriam  received  a  majority  in  the  representative 
class. 

The  Republican  candidate  for  senator  was  elected. 


Presidential  Electors 

Balloting  for  presidential  electors  occurred  on  the 
fourth  of  November,  1856,  with  results  as  follows:  The 
Republican  candidates  received  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven  votes;  the  Democratic  candidates  received  eighty- 
seven  votes;  the  Straight  Whigs  received  seven  votes. 


308  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Garland  in  1857 

The  annual  town  meeting  of  1857  was  held  on  the 
ninth  day  of  March.  Russell  Murdock  was  chosen 
moderator.  The  officers  for  the  year  were,  Thaddeus  P. 
Irish,  town  clerk ;  Lorenzo  Oak,  Noah  W.  Johnson  and 
Samuel  Skillin,  selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers  of  the 
poor;  Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer;  Lyndon  Oak,  super- 
visor of  schools ;  James  J.  Chandler,  collector  of  taxes, 
with  commission  of  two  and  one  half  per  cent. 


Appropriations  of  1857 

For  schools,  the  amount  required  by  law,  six  hundred 
dollars  for  town  charges,  five  hundred  dollars  for  the 
poor,  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  roads,  a 
cash  appropriation  of  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  road 
running  in  a  southeasterly  direction  to  the  town  line 
and  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  be  expended  on  the 
Notch  road. 


Autumnal  Elections  of  1857 

This  election  was  held  September  14  with  results  as 
follows:  For  governor,  Lot  M.  Morrill,  Republican, 
received  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  votes ;  Manasseh  H. 
Smith,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  two  votes. 

For  senators,  the  Republican  candidate  received  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  votes ;  the  Democratic  candidate 
received  one  hundred  and  four  votes. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,    MAINE  309 

Stephen  D.  Jennings  of  Garland  was  a  candidate  for 
the  Senate. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  the  Republican 
candidate  received  one  hundred  and  forty -nine  votes; 
the  Democratic  candidate  received  one  hundred  and 
seven  votes. 


Garland  in  1858 

The  annual  meeting  of  1858  was  held  on  the  8th 
day  of  March.  Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  moderator. 
The  officers  for  the  year  were  Thaddeus  P.  Irish,  town 
clerk;  Lorenzo  Oak,  Samuel  Skillin  and  T.  J.  Shaw, 
selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers  of  the  poor;  Lyndon 
Oak,  supervisor  of  schools ;  James  J.  Chandler,  collector 
of  taxes,  and  two  and  one  half  per  cent,  was  voted  him 
for  the  service,  he  agreeing  to  allow  a  rebate  of  twelve 
and  one  half  per  cent,  for  the  amount  uncollected  at  the 
end  of  a  year  from  the  date  of  his  bills. 


Appropriations  of  1858 

For  schools,  the  amount  required  by  law,  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  for  town  charges,  four  hundred 
dollars  for  the  support  of  the  poor,  two  hundred  dollars 
for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor,  a  cash  appropriation  of 
four  hundred  dollars  to  be  expended  on  the  north  end  of 
the  Notch  road,  also  a  cash  appropriation  not  to  exceed 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  for  the  completion 
of   the  county  road    leading    from  Holt's  Mills  to  the 


310  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

west  line  of  Charleston  by  contract,  the  terms  of  which 
shall  insure  the  construction  of  the  road  in  a  thorough 
manner. 


Autumnal  Elections  of  1858 

For  governor.  Lot  M.  Morrill,  Republican,  received 
one  hundred  and  seventy  votes ;  Manasseh  Smith,  Demo- 
crat, received  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  Israel  Washburn,  Jr., 
Republican,  received  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  votes; 
James  S.  Wiley,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and 
twenty-three  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Noah  W. 
Johnson,  Republican,  received  one  hjindred  and  seventy- 
four  votes ;  Samuel  Skillin,  Democrat,  received  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-three  votes. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  elected. 


Garland  in  1859 

The  annual  town  meeting  of  1859  was  held  March 
14.  Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  moderator.  The 
officers  for  the  year  were  Lorenzo  Oak,  T.  J.  Shaw  and 
Luther  Rideout,  selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers  of 
the  poor;  Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer;  Lyndon  Oak, 
supervisor  of  schools;  Edwin  Hill,  collector,  compensa- 
tion two  and  one  half  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  were  eight  hundred  dollars  for  the 
support  of   schools,   four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for 


HISTORY    OF    GAULAND,     MAINE  311 

town  charges,  five  hundred  dollars  to  support  the  poor 
and  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  highways. 
The  treasurer  of  the  town  was  authorized  to  hire  a  sum 
not  exceeding  one  thousand  two  hundi-ed  and  fifty  dol- 
lars at  a  rate  of  interest  not  exceeding  six  per  cent.,  to 
be  applied  to  the  making  of  the  Notch  road. 


Autumnal  Elections  of  1859 

The  autumnal  elections  of  1859  were  held  on  Septem- 
ber 12.  For  governor,  Lot  M.  Morrill,  Republican, 
received  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  votes;  Manasseh 
Smith,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  five  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Winthrop 
Chapman,  Republican,  received  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
six  votes;  Washington  L.  P.  Walker,  Democrat, 
received  one  hundred  and  eight  votes. 

Mr.  Chapman  was  elected. 


Garland    in  1860 

The  annual  meeting  of  1860  was  held  on  the  12th 
day  of  March.  Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  moder- 
ator. The  officers  for  the  year  were  Henry  C.  Preble, 
town  clerk;  Lorenzo  Oak,  Russell  Murdock  and  Stephen 
D.  Jennings,  selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers  of  the 
poor;  Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer,  compensation  four  per 
cent.  ;  Lyndon  Oak,  supervisor  of  schools;  James  J. 
Chandler,  collector  of  taxes  for  a  compensation  of  two 
per  cent. 


312  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  appropriations  were  eight  hundred  dollars  for 
schools,  four  hundred  dollars  to  defray  town  charges, 
five  hundred  dollars  to  support  the  poor,  one  thousand 
dollars  to  pay  town  debts  and  two  thousand  dollars  for 
highways,  to  be  paid  in  labor. 


Autumnal  Election 

This  election  was  held  September  10,  1860.  For  gov- 
ernor, Israel  Washburn,  Jr.,  Republican,  received  two 
hundred  and  thirteen  votes ;  Ephraim  K.  Smart,  Demo- 
crat, received  one  hundred  and  fifteen  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  John  H.  Rice,  Repub- 
lican, received  two  hundred  and  fifteen  votes ;  Samuel  H. 
Blake,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
votes. 

For  register  of  probate,  Joseph  Bartlett,  Republi- 
can, a  native  of  Garland,  received  two  hundred  and 
thirteen  votes;  Henry  Casey,  Democrat,  received  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Luther  Rideout, 
Republican,  received  two  hundred  and  two  votes;  John 
G.  Jones,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  votes. 

Mr.  Rideout  received  a  majority  of  votes  in  the  class. 


Ballot  for  Presidential  Electors  in  1860 

The  voters  of  Garland  assembled  on  November  6  to 
ballot  for  presidential  electors,  when  the  Republican 
candidate  received  one  hundred  and  ninety-three  votes; 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  313 

the  Democratic  candidate  received  fifty-three  votes ;  the 
Straight  Whig  candidate  received  twenty-eight  votes. 

On  the  same  day  for  representative  to  Congress, 
Stephen  Cobum,  Republican,  received  one  hundred  and 
ninety-three  votes;  Joseph  Chase,  Democrat,  received 
forty-nine  votes;  scattering,  twenty-eight  votes. 


Garland  in  1861 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  was  held  March 
11.  Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  moderator.  The 
officers  for  the  year  were  Henry  C.  Preble,  town  clerk; 
Russell  Murdock,  Samuel  Skillin  and  George  W.  Otis, 
selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers  of  the  poor;  Franklin 
Taylor,  treasurer;  Henry  C.  Preble,  supervisor  of 
schools;  James  J.  Chandler,  collector,  who  agreed  to  col- 
lect the  taxes  for  two  and  one  half  per  cent. ,  and  to  pay 
twelve  per  cent,  interest  upon  the  sum  of  uncollected 
taxes  at  the  end  of  the  year.  E.  L.  Oak  was  chosen 
town  agent. 

The  appropriations  for  the  year  were  nine  hundred 
dollars  for  schools,  four  hundred  dollars  for  town 
charges,  five  hundred  dollai*s  for  the  poor,  seven  hundred 
dollars  to  pay  debts  and  two  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars for  roads.  The  town  voted  to  authorize  the  select- 
men to  grant  the  use  of  the  town  house  for  concerts, 
lectures  and  kindred  purposes  upon  such  conditions  as 
they  judge  proper.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  town, 
held  on  April  6,  it  was  voted  to  appropriate  five  hun- 
dred dollars  to  make  and  repair  highways. 


314  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Autumnal  Election  of  1861 

This  election  was  held  on  September  9.  For  gov- 
ernor, Israel  Washburn,  Republican,  received  two  hun- 
dred and  two  votes ;  John  W.  Dana,  Democrat,  received 
eighty-seven  votes;  scattering,  twelve  votes. 

For  county  commissioner,  John  S.  Patten,  Repub- 
lican, received  two  hundred  and  two  votes ;  Thomas  K. 
Holt,  Democrat,  received  eighty-five  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  E.  H.  Small, 
Republican,  received  two  hundred  and  one  votes ;  Francis 
Hill,  Democrat,  received  eighty-eight  votes;  John  W. 
Osgood,  received  eleven  votes. 


Garland  in  1862 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  in  1862  was 
held  on  March  10.  Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  mod- 
erator. The  officers  for  the  year  were  H.  C.  Preble, 
clerk;  Russell  Murdock,  Samuel  SkiUin  and  James  J. 
Chandler,  selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers  of  the  poor ; 
Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer;  H.  C.  Preble,  supervisor  of 
schools ;  E.  L.  Oak,  town  agent ;  Edwin  Hill,  collector, 
who  was  allowed  two  and  one  half  per  cent,  for  collect- 
ing the  taxes,  and  was  held  to  pay  twelve  and  one  half 
per  cent,  interest  upon  the  sum  uncollected  at  the  end  of 
the  year  until  such  sum  was  paid  into  the  treasury. 

The  regular  appropriations  for  1862  were  nine  hun- 
dred dollars  for  schools,  six  hundred  and  fifty  doUars  for 
town  charges,  six  hundred  dollars  for  the  poor,  eight 
hundred  dollars  to  pay  debts  and  two  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor.     The  town 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  315 

voted  to  purchase  a  home  for  the  poor,  and  instructed 
the  selectmen  to  look  for  such  home,  and  report  at  the 
September  meeting. 


Autumnal  Election  of  1862 

For  governor,  Abner  Coburn,  Republican,  received 
one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  votes;  Bion  Bradbury, 
Democrat,  received  ninety-four  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  John  H.  Rice,  Repub- 
lican, received  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  votes ;  Gorham 
L.  Boynton,  Democrat,  received  ninety-four  votes. 

For  representative  to  State  Legislature,  Daniel  M. 
Haskell,  Republican,  received  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  votes;  Stephen  D.  Jennings,  received  ninety -three 
votes. 

Mr.  Haskell  was  elected. 


Garland  in  1863 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  in  1863  was 
held  March  9.  Artemas  Merriam  was  chosen  moderator. 
The  officers  for  the  year  were,  A.  M.  Haskell,  Elisha 
Skinner  and  Edwin  Hill,  selectmen,  assessors  and  over- 
seers of  the  poor;  Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer;  Henry 
C.  Preble,  David  Evans  and  Edson  L.  Oak,  superin- 
tending school  committee;  Lorenzo  Oak,  town  agent; 
John  S.  Oliver,  collector,  who  was  to  collect  the  taxes 
for  one  per  cent.,  and  to  pay  twelve  per  cent,  upon  the 
sum  of  uncollected  taxes  at  the  close  of  the  year. 


316  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  appropriations  for  1863  were  nine  hundred  dol- 
lars for  schools,  five  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges, 
six  hundred  dollars  for  the  poor,  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred dollars  to  pay  debts  and  two  thousand  dollars  for 
roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor. 


Autumnal  Election  of  1863 

For  governor,  Samuel  Cony,  Republican,  received  two 
hundred  and  seventeen  votes;  B.  Bradbury,  Democrat, 
received  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Francis  W. 
Hill,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
votes;  John  W.  Osgood,  Republican,  received  two  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  votes. 


Garland  in  1864 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  occurred  on  the 
14th  of  March.  Luther  Rideout  was  moderator. 
The  officers  for  the  year  were  George  S.  Clark,  town 
clerk;  A.  M.  Haskell,  Elisha  Skinner  and  Thomas 
Dearborn,  selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers  of  the  poor; 
Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer ;  Lyndon  Oak,  David  Evans 
and  Calvin  P.  Berry,  superintending  school  committee; 
John  S.  Oliver,  collector  of  taxes,  whose  compensation 
was  one  and  one  half  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  of  1864  were  nine  hundred  dollars 
for  schools,  five  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  six 
hundred  dollars  for    the  poor,  one  thousand  dollars  to 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  317 

pay  debts,  two  thousand  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in 
labor. 


Autumnal  Election  of  1864 

For  governor,  Samuel  Cony,  Republican,  received  two 
hundred  and  nine  votes;  Joseph  Howard,  Democrat, 
received  one  hundred  and  eleven  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  John  H.  Rice  received 
two  hundred  and  eight  votes;  James  C.  Madigan 
received  one  hundred  and  eleven  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Lyndon  Oak 
received  two  hundred  and  eight  votes ;  Albert  Grinnell 
received  one  hundred  and  eleven  votes. 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  on  the  8th 
of  November  to  ballot  for  electors  for  President  and  Vice 
President,  when  the  Republican  candidates  received  two 
hundred  and  eleven  votes;  the  Democratic  candidates 
received  one  hundred  and  seventeen  votes. 


Garland  in  1865 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  in  1865  was 
held  on  the  13th  of  March.  Luther  Rideout  was 
chosen  moderator.  The  officers  for  the  year  were  George 
S.  Clark,  town  clerk;  A.  M.  Haskell,  Lorenzo  Oak  and 
Thomas  Dearborn,  Jr.,  selectmen,  assessors  and  over- 
seers of  the  poor;  Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer;  Lyndon 
Oak,  David  Evans  and  Calvin  P.  Berry,  superintending 
school  committee;  John  S.  Oliver,  collector,  compensa- 
tion one  and  one  half  per  cent. 


318  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

The  appropriations  for  the  year  were  one  thousand 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  schools,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  dollars  for  town  charges,  eight 
hundred  dollars  for  the  poor,  two  thousand  dollars  to 
pay  debts  and  three  thousand  dollars  for  roads,  to  be 
paid  in  labor. 


Autumnal  Election  of  1865 

This  election  occurred  on  September  11.  For  gov- 
ernor, Samuel  Cony,  Republican,  received  one  hundred 
and  seventy-four  votes;  Joseph  Howard,  Democrat, 
received  eighty-three  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  E.  Augustus 
Chandler,  Republican,  received  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
four  votes;  Harmon  Eastman,  Democrat,  received 
eighty-three  votes. 


Garland  in  1866 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  was  held  on 
March  12.  Luther  Rideout  was  chosen  moderator. 
The  officers  for  the  year  were  George  S.  Clark,  town 
clerk;  A.  M.  Haskell,  Joseph  M.  Gerry  and  Jacob  W. 
Haskell,  selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers  of  the  poor; 
Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer;  A.  W.  Reed,  superintending 
school  committee ;  William  E.  Skillin,  collector  of  taxes, 
compensation  one  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  for  1866  were  one  thousand  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  schools,  two  thousand 


HISTORY    OF    GAB.LAND,     MAINE  319 

dollars  for  town  charges,  five  hundred  dollars  for  the 
poor,  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  to  pay  debts  and 
two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid 
in  labor.  It  was  voted  to  allow  twenty-five  per  cent, 
discount  to  all  taxpayers  who  paid  their  taxes  on,  or 
before,  the  10th  day  of  June. 


Autumnal  Election  of  1866 

This  election  was  held  on  the  10th  day  of  September. 
For  governor,  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain,  Republican, 
received  two  hundred  and  eight  votes ;  Eben  F.  Pillsbury, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  one  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  John  A.  Peters, 
Republican,  received  two  hundred  and  six  votes ;  G.  M. 
Weston,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  one  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Lyndon  Oak, 
Republican,  received  two  hundred  and  six  votes;  Joel 
W.  Otis,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  one  votes. 


Garland  in  1867 

The  annual  meeting  for  town  business  in  1867,  was 
held  on  the  11th  day  of  March.  Luther  Rideout 
was  chosen  moderator.  The  officers  for  the  year  were 
George  S.  Clark,  town  clerk ;  A.  M.  Hsiskell,  Jacob  W. 
Haskell  and  Joseph  M.  Gerry,  selectmen,  assessors  and 
overseers  of  the  poor;  Lyndon  Oak  and  Henry  C. 
Preble,  superintending  school  committee;  Franklin 
Taylor,   treasurer;  A.   F.   Parkman,   collector  of  taxes, 


HISTOEY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

compensation  fifteen   mills  per   dollar.     The   selectmen 
were  elected  surveyors  of  highways. 

The  appropriations  for  the  year  were  one  thousand 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  schools,  two 
thousand  dollars  for  town  charges,  seven  hundred  dollars 
for  the  poor,  three  thousand  dollars  to  pay  debts,  three 
thousand  dollars  for  roads. 


Autumnal   Election  of  1867 

This  election  was  held  on  the  9th  of  September. 
For  governor,  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain,  Republican, 
received  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  votes;  Eben  F. 
Pillsbury,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  two 
votes. 

For  senator,  Isaiah  Stetson,  Republican,  receiVed  one 
hundred  and  eighty-one  votes;  John  Gardner,  Demo- 
crat, received  one  hundred  and  one  votes. 

For  representative,  Amasa  Stetson,  Republican, 
received  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  votes;  Eben  E. 
Brown  received  one  hundred  and  two  votes. 


Garland  in  1868 

The  annual  meeting  of  1868  for  town  business  was 
held  in  March.  Artemas  Merriam  was  moderator.  The 
officers  for  the  year  were  George  S.  Clark,  clerk ;  A.  M. 
Haskell,  Jacob  W.  Haskell  and  George  W.  Otis,  select- 
men, assessors  and  overseers  of  the  poor ;  David  Evans, 
superintending    school    committee;     Franklin    Taylor, 


HISTOEY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  S21 

treasurer,  compensation  five  mills  per  dollar;  Lorenzo 
Oak,  collector  of  taxes,  compensation  one  per  cent. 

The  appropriations  for  1868  were  one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars  for  schools,  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
dollars  for  town  charges,  seven  hundred  dollars  for  the 
poor,  one  thousand  dollars  for  debts,  two  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor  at  fifteen 
cents  per  hour.  Cash  appropriations  for  roads  were  five 
hundred  dollars  to  be  expended  on  county  road  between 
Garland  Village  and  Holt's  Mills,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  to  be  expended  on  the  road  leading  from  N.  J. 
Johnson's  mill  to  Dover  line,  two  hundred  dollars  to  be 
expended  on  road  leading  from  I.  B.  Royal's  to  Dexter 
line,  seventy-five  dollars  to  be  expended  on  bridge  over 
the  stream  near  Lewis  Crowell's  mill,  one  hundred  dol- 
lars to  grade  the  Preble  hill,  fifty  dollars  to  build  a  road 
to  Gray's  mill. 

The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  purchase  a  hearse. 


Autumnal  Election  of  1868 

This  election  was  held  on  the  14th  of  September. 
For  governor,  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain,  Republican, 
received  two  hundred  and  ten  votes ;  Eben  F.  Pillsbury, 
Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  votes. 

For  representative  to  Congress,  John  A.  Peters, 
Republican,  received  two  hundred  and  nine  votes;  G. 
W.  Ladd,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Lyndon  Oak, 
Republican,  received  two  hundred  and  nine  votes; 
Stephen  D.  Jennings,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  votes. 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,    MAINE 

The  legal  voters  of  Garland  assembled  on  the  3d 
of  November  to  ballot  for  electors  of  President  and  Vice 
President,  when  the  Republican  candidates  received  two 
hundred  and  one  votes;  the  Democratic  candidates 
received  one  hundred  and  eleven  votes. 


Garland  in  1869 

The  meeting  for  town  business  in  1869  was  held  on 
the  8th  day  of  March.  Luther  Rideout  was  chosen 
moderator.  The  officers  for  the  year  were  George  S. 
Clark,  town  clerk;  A.  M.  Haskell,  Jacob  W.  Haskell 
and  George  W.  Otis,  selectmen,  assessors  and  overseers 
of  the  poor;  Franklin  Taylor,  treasurer,  compensation 
five  mills  per  dollar;  Lorenzo  Oak,  collector,  compen- 
sation one  and  one  half  cents  per  dollar. 

The  appropriations  of  1869  were  one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars  for  schools,  one  thousand  two  hundred 
dollars  for  town  charges,  eight  hundred  dollars  for  the 
poor,  one  thousand  dollars  for  debts,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  for  the  road  near  Johnson's  Mills,  three 
thousand  dollars  for  roads,  to  be  paid  in  labor,  for  which 
men  are  to  be  allowed  fifteen  cents  per  hour. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  September  6,  1869,  the 
town  voted  to  exempt  the  mill  property  of  H.  L. 
Gordon  &  Co.   from  taxation  for  an  indefinite  time. 


Autumnal  Election 

This  election  was  held  on  the  13th  day  of  September, 
1869.     For  governor,  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain,  Repub- 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

lican,  received  one  hundred  and  fifty  votes;  Franklin 
Smith,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and  three  votes; 
scattering,  ten  votes. 

For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  John  Whitney, 
Republican,  received  one  hundred  and  sixty  votes; 
Francis  W.  Hill,  Democrat,  received  one  hundred  and 
three  votes. 


Special  Meeting 

A  special  meeting  was  held  on  November  24th  to 
take  another  pull  on  the  town  farm  question,  when  it 
was  voted  to  purchase  such  farm  and  properly  equip  it 
for  a  comfortable  home  for  an  unfortunate  class  of  our 
citizens.  Money  not  to  exceed  three  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars  was  voted  to  purchase  such  farm  and  prop- 
erly furnish  it.  Elijah  Crane  was  appointed  agent  to 
make  the  selection  and  purchase  of  a  farm  with  suitable 
buildings  for  the  purpose  intended. 


Garland  in  the  Temperance  Reform 

At  the  opening  of  the  nineteenth  century,  the  use  of 
intoxicating  liquors  had  become  almost  universal  in  the 
United  States.  Its  citizens  were  at  a  remove  of  only  a 
few  years  from  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  terrible 
hardships  of  this  war  had  been  a  fruitful  source  of 
intemperance.  Its  results  had  humbled  the  pride  of  our 
English  cousins,  who  solaced  themselves  by  characterizing 
the  people  of  the  United  States  as  a  "nation  of  drunk- 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

ards. "  The  use  of  spirituous  liquors  invaded  every 
department  of  life.  They  were  used  at  the  ordination 
of  ministers,  at  the  dedication  of  churches,  at  funerals 
and  weddings.  New  England  rum  was  the  stimulating 
agency  where  the  combined  strength  of  numbers  was 
required,  such  as  the  raising  the  frames  of  buildings, 
and  to  promote  steadiness  of  nerve  to  those  who  scaled 
dizzy  heights. 

Such  were  the  sentiments  and  usages  at  the  date  of 
the  settlement  of  Garland.  The  early  settlers  were  gen- 
erally men  of  good  character,  having  been  religiously 
educated  in  the  homes  of  their  childhood,  but  abstinence 
from  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  had  found  no  place 
in  the  creeds  of  the  times.  In  the  toilsome  efforts  to 
compel  the  resistant  forces  of  a  new  country  to  give 
place  to  the  homes  of  civilization,  the  stimulus  of  New 
England  rum  was  believed  to  be  essential  to  success.  It 
was  used  to  inspire  courage,  to  promote  strength  of 
muscle,  and  to  ward  off  the  cold  of  winter  and  the  heat 
of  summer.  In  every  day  occupations  it  was  used  mod- 
erately as  a  rule.  Its  excessive  use  was  reserved  for  pub- 
lic occasions,  such  as  military  inspections,  musters  and 
celebrations  of  public  events.  Corn  huskings,  where 
neighbors  met  to  assist  each  other  in  divesting  the  ear  of 
its  coverings,  were  esteemed  as  pleasant  social  events  of 
the  long,  autumnal  evenings.  The  failure  to  provide  a 
generous  supply  of  the  favorite  New  England  beverage 
for  such  occasions  was  attributed  to  stinginess. 

On  one  such  occasion,  the  person  who  had  been 
favored  by  the  assistance  of  his  neighbors,  awoke  the 
next  morning  to  find  that  a  favorite  two-year-old 
heifer  was  missing.  After  a  long  and  fruitless  search  in 
pasture,  field  and  forest,  the  missing  animal  was  found 
tied  to  a  brace  on  the  summit  of  a  hay  mow.  Then, 
as  now,  the  appetite  for  liquor  in  the  case  of  individuals 


HISTOKY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  325 

was,  at  times,  very  strong.  At  the  end  of  the  spring's 
work,  on  one  occasion,  two  men  living  just  across  the 
line  in  Dexter,  started  to  go  to  Bangor  for  the  purchase 
of  supplies,  prominent  among  which  was  rum,  the  sup- 
ply of  this  article  having  been  exhausted  several  days 
earlier.  Their  thirst  having  become  imperative,  they 
called  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Copeland,  where  Mark 
Jennings  now  resides,  and  asked  for  a  drink  of  rum. 
Mr.  Copeland  informed  them  that  he  was  out  of  that 
article,  when  one  of  them  exclaimed — '*For  Heaven's 
sake  bring  out  your  rum  jug  and  let  us  smell  it!" 

At  military  inspections  and  drills  which  occurred  early 
in  the  month  of  May  of  each  year,  the  pail  of  rum 
sweetened  with  molasses  was  passed  from  head  to  foot  of 
the  company  standing  in  line,  at  the  opening  and  close 
of  the  drill.  This  was  a  marked  feature  of  the  old- 
time  May  training.  Rum  was  kept  in  all  grocery  stores 
for  the  double  purpose  of  stimulating  purchases  and  in- 
creasing trade.  The  increase  of  intemperance  had  now 
become  a  cause  of  alarm  to  thoughtful  people. 

In  the  year  1826,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  of 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  the  father  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher 
and  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  preached  a  series  of  start- 
ling sermons  upon  the  increase  of  intemperance  in  the 
United  States,  which  were  given  to  the  public  a  little 
later  by  the  American  Tract  Society.  The  pungency 
and  force  of  these  sermons  are  indicated  by  the  follow- 
ing extract :  *  ^Intemperance  is  the  sin  of  our  land,  and 
with  our  boundless  prosperity  is  coming  upon  us  like  a 
flood,  and  if  anything  shall  defeat  the  hopes  of  the 
world  which  hang  upon  our  experiment  of  civil  liberty, 
it  is  that  river  of  fire  which  is  rolling  through  the  land, 
destroying  the  vital  air,  and  extending  around  us  an 
atmosphere  of  death. ' ' 

Doctor  Beecher 's  utterances  on  the  inroads  of  intem- 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

perance  produced  a  profound  impression  upon  the  New- 
England  mind.  The  ministry  was  especially  stirred. 
Temperance  societies  sprang  into  existence  as  if  by 
magic  in  many  a  New  England  town.  Bangor's  most 
eminent  citizens  led  in  the  organization  of  a  county 
temperance  society.  The  towns  in  the  immediate  vicin- 
ity of  Garland  were  moved  to  action  by  the  stirring 
appeals  of  Cyril  Pearl,  then  a  student  of  Bangor  Theo- 
logical Seminary. 

The  first'  action  in  Garland,  looking  to  associated 
effort  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  occurred  in  1829. 
Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  one  of  Garland's  leading  citizens, 
was  at  work  in  his  field  with  his  hired  man,  Joseph  True, 
both  being  ardent  friends  of  temperance.  The  con- 
versation between  them  turned  upon  the  importance  of 
organized  effort  in  behalf  of  temperance,  when  one  of 
them  proposed  that  they  should  step  across  the  road  to 
the  residence  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  Wilkins,  the  Congre- 
gational minister,  and  request  him  to  write  a  paper 
pledging  them  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  alcoholic 
drinks.  The  pledge  was  signed  by  Isaac  Wheeler  and 
Joseph  True.  This  led  to  the  organization  of  Garland's 
first  temperance  society.  To  Isaac  Wheeler  and  Joseph 
True  belongs  the  honor  of  being  the  pioneers  in  the 
associated  temperance  movement  in  Garland.  A  society 
was  organized  shortly  after  which  bore  the  names  of 
Isaac  Wilkins  and  wife,  Isaac  Wheeler  and  wife,  Joseph 
True,  Ansel  Field  and  wife.  Deacon  Stephen  Smith  and 
wife,  and  George  Curtis. 

Deacon  Smith  was  chosen  president  and  George  Curtis, 
secretary.  The  organization  was  effected  at  the  house 
now  occupied  by  the  Clark  family.  Its  members  pledged 
themselves  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks 
as  a  beverage  and  from  furnishing  them  to  others.      This 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  327 

movement    was    at    first  treated    with  ridicule    by    the 
citizens  of  the  town  generally. 

When  a  job  requiring  the  voluntary  assistance  of  num- 
bers to  perform,  was  undertaken,  the  failure  to  furaish  a 
bountiful  supply  of  New  England  rum  was  considered  an 
unpardonable  infraction  of  a  time-honored  practice. 
The  raising  of  houses  and  barn  frames  were  illustrative 
cases.  In  1829,  Elder  John  Page  asked  the  assistance 
of  neighbors  to  raise  a  bam  frame.  Several  persons  who 
appeared  in  response  to  the  request,  finding  that  the 
anticipated  stimulus  was  invisible,  refused  to  assist  and 
disappeared,  whereupon,  Elder  Josiah  Bartlett  offered 
an  earnest  prayer  for  an  increase  of  strength  to  the  men 
who  remained.      The  frame  was  raised  without  accident. 

Soon  afterward,  James  J.  Chandler  raised  a  barn  frame 
without  supplying  liquor  against  the  earnest  protest  of 
his  master  workman.  In  the  same  year  George  Curtis 
raised  a  barn  frame  without  the  aid  of  liquor.  In  this 
case  two  men  demanded  payment  for  assistance  rendered. 
The  men  who  thus  early  engaged  in  the  crusade  against 
the  use  of  rum  were  not  turned  from  their  purpose  by 
ridicule  or  threats. 

The  temperance  sentiment  had  reached  a  point  in  1840 
when  the  presence  of  rum  at  a  house  or  bam  raising  was 
not  expected.  Some  amusing  incidents  of  the  effects  of 
rum  at  barn  raisings  are  related.  At  the  raising  of  the 
bam  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  James  Rideout  several 
men  came  from  the  easterly  part  of  the  town  who  saved 
considerable  travel  by  crossing  a  brook  on  a  tree  that 
had  been  felled  across  it. 

In  walking  to  the  site  of  the  prospective  barn,  they 
reached  the  opposite  side  dry.  On  their  return  over  the 
same  brook,  on  the  same  tree,  they  were  wet  when  they 
got  to  the  side  nearest  their  homes. 


HISTOItY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINS 

The  Washingtonian  Movement 

In  1841,  the  Washingtonian  temperance  movement 
inaugurated  at  Baltimore  three  years  earlier,  which  had 
drawn  to  its  ranks  many  citizens  who  had  not  previously 
attached  themselves  to  the  earlier  temperance  associa- 
tions, attracted  the  favorable  attention  of  a  number  of 
the  citizens  of  Garland.  A  Washingtonian  society  was 
organized.  Captain  Bildad  A.  Haskell  was  chosen 
president  and  Stephen  B.  Dockham,  secretary.  For 
several  years  its  members  worked  with  zeal  and  success 
in  advancing  the  cause  of  temperance. 

In  the  same  year  the  earlier  friends  of  temperance 
organized  anew,  adopting  the  name  of  "The  Garland 
Union  Temperance  Society."  The  new  pledge  forbade 
the  use  of  wine,  which  was  a  step  in  advance.  The 
friends  of  temperance  had  been  aggressive  from  the 
beginning.  They  had  shown  that  the  raising  of  build- 
ings and  similar  undertakings  could  be  accomplished 
without  the  use  of  intoxicants.  They  had  driven  the 
traffic  from  the  stores.  The  next  point  of  attack  was 
the  hotels. 

A  respectable  citizen  of  Garland,  believed  that,  as  he 
expressed  it,  '*the  more  radical  opponents  of  the  temper- 
ance movement  could  be  induced  to  cease  their  strong 
opposition  to  it  by  a  judicious  sale  of  intoxicating 
drinks. ' '  His  explanation  of  such  sale  was  to  refuse  it 
to  the  immoderate  drinker,  and  to  furnish  to  the  moder- 
ate drinker  under  such  limitations  as  would  guard  him 
against  its  excessive  use.  This  theory  failed  to  satisfy 
the  friends  of  temperance. 

Some  of  the  leading  temperance  men  endeavored,  in  a 
friendly  way,  to  induce  him  to  relinquish  his  purpose, 
but  without  avail.  A  remonstrance  against  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors,  signed  by  all  the  town  officers,  and 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  329 

leading  citizens  of  the  town,  was  placed  in  his  hands. 
A  similar  remonstrance  of  a  large  number  of  women  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  his  wife.  As  a  result  of  these 
movements  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  was  promptly 
abandoned. 

The  year  1848  marks  the  date  when  the  open  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage  became  a  thing  of  the 
past  in  the  history  of  Garland.  A  healthy  public  senti- 
ment upon  this  vital  subject  has  been  maintained  by 
temperance  organizations,  under  different  names,  from 
1848  to  the  present  time. 


An  Event  Worthy  of  Record 

In  the  year  1876,  several  members  of  a  Reform  Club 
of  a  neighboring  town,  visited  Garland  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  a  Reform  Club.  Their  motives  were  excel- 
lent and  their  zeal  was  of  the  fervid  type,  but  to  their 
surprise  they  found  no  material  upon  which  to  base  such 
an  organization. 


Garland's  Action  on  a  Proposed    Amendment 
of  the  State  Constitution 

In  1884,  an  amendment  of  the  State  Constitution, 
forever  prohibiting  the  manufacture,  sale,  and  keeping 
for  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor  for  drinking  purposes, 
was  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people  of  the  State. 
The  voters  of  Garland  gave  176  votes  for  the  amendment 
and  51  votes  against  it. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Before  Roads  Were  Made  in  the  Township 

Before  roads  were  made  a  settler  would  spot  a  line 
through  the  woods  to  his  nearest  neighbor.  If  a  rude 
bridge  were  to  be  built  across  a  stream,  or  a  mirj  place 
made  passable,  the  combined  efforts  of  the  two  would 
accomplish  the  work.  This  neighbor  in  turn  would 
mark  the  way  to  the  next  neighbor  in  the  same  manner. 
Thus  lines  of  travel  were  opened  through  the  township. 

In  marking  these  ways  hills  and  swamps  were  avoided 
when  practicable.  They  were  often  rough  and  circuit- 
ous, and  the  more  they  were  traveled  the  worse  they 
became.  Excluded  from  the  influence  of  the  sun  by  the 
heavy  forest  growth,  they  were  scarcely  dry  from  spring 
to  autumn.  Horses  were  much  used  for  carrying  bur- 
dens,  and  it  is  said  that  they  learned  to  find  solid  foot- 
ing  by  traveling  in  footsteps  already  made. 


Early  Lines  of  Approach  to  the  Township 

The  earliest  line  of  approach  to  the  township,  now 
Garland,  was  by  the  way  of  Bangor  through  the  present 
towns  of  Glenburn,  Kenduskeag,  Corinth,  and  a  corner 
of  Charleston.  After  leaving  Charleston  it  extended  in 
a  northwesterly  direction  to  a  spring  of  excellent  water 
near  the  former  residence  of  S.  O.  Davis,  thence  to  the 
site  of  Garland  village.  It  was  by  this  route  that  those 
eighteen  stalwart  men,  who  made  beginnings  of  homes 
in  1802,  reached  the  township.  It  was  by  this  route 
that  the  heroic  family  of  Joseph  Garland,  which  after- 
wards gave  name  to  the  town,  found  their  way  to  their 
little  cabin  by  the  brookside  in  the  northwest  part  of 
the  township. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  331 

The  second  line  of  approach,  diverging  from  the  above 
line  at  Kenduskeag,  passed  through  West  Corinth  and  a 
comer  of  Exeter  to  Garland.  The  old  county  road  from 
western  Piscataquis  to  Bangor,  afterwards  made,  was 
nearly  coincident  with  this  second  line  of  approach. 

This  was  the  line  of  travel  for  Moses  Hodsdon  and  his 
men  from  Kenduskeag  to  Garland  when  building  the 
sawmill  in  the  latter  township  in  1802.  The  third  line 
of  approach  was  from  a  point  on  the  Kennebec  River 
through  the  towns  of  Harmony,  Ripley  and  Dexter  to 
Garland.  The  Gordon  and  Chandler  families  passed 
along  this  line  to  reach  Garland  in  1805. 


Early  Roads 

Many  of  the  most  serious  hardships  of  pioneer  life 
result  from  the  absence  of  roads.  This  is  especially  true 
of  communities  surrounded  by  other  communities  in  like 
destitute  condition.  The  first  settlers  of  Garland  were 
obliged  to  travel  many  a  weary  mile  to  find  a  road  over 
which  a  vehicle,  other  than  a  clumsy  oxsled  or  wagon, 
could  be  used. 

During  the  unorganized  condition  of  the  township, 
but  little  was  done  in  the  way  of  road- making.  A  few 
public-spirited  residents,  conspicuous  among  whom  was 
Edward  Fifield  of  West  Garland,  did  what  they  could 
to  induce  other  residents  to  contribute  voluntary  labor 
to  the  making  of  roads,  but  their  success  was  not  encour- 
aging. A  large  majority  of  the  residents  preferred  to 
await  the  application  of  a  compulsory  process. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

History  of  the  Principal  Existing  Roads 

The  first  road  established  by  the  town  was  the  road 
from  Dexter  through  the  center  of  Garland  to  Charles- 
ton. It  is  six  miles  in  length  and  was  established  April 
22,  1811.  Living  upon  or  near  the  route  of  this  road 
in  1811,  were  Joshua  Silver,  Jeremiah  Flanders,  Thomas 
S.  Tyler,  Amos  Gordon,  Simeon  Morgan,  Joseph  Gar- 
land, Jacob  Garland,  John  Tyler,  Oliver  Woodward, 
Joseph  Tread  well,  Josiah  Bartlett  and  John  M.  Chase. 


Second  Road 

The  route  of  the  second  road  established  on  the  same 
date  was  one  mile  north  of  the  center  road  and  parallel 
to  it.  Beginning  at  the  west  line  of  the  town,  it  ran 
easterly  between  the  eighth  and  ninth  ranges  of  lots,  on 
the  summit  of  the  range  of  hills  in  the  northerly  part  of 
the  town,  to  a  point  near  the  base  of  High  Cut.  There 
were  living  on  or  near  this  route  in  1811  the  families 
of  Thomas  Gilpatrick,  William  Dustin,  Philip  Greeley, 
Justus  Harriman,  John  Chandler,  Samuel  Mansfield, 
Rev.  John  Sawyer,  William  Blaisdell  and  Joseph 
Saunders. 

The  route  of  this  road  was  established  in  accordance 
with  the  policy  of  the  original  proprietors,  who  had 
checked  the  township  into  lots  of  a  mile  square  by  range- 
ways  for  roads.  Some  sections  of  this  route,  in  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town,  were  found  impracticable  for 
public  travel  and  were  never  used  for  this  purpose.  The 
families  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town,  living  on  or 
near  the  abandoned  section  of  this  route,  are  supplied 
with  roads  running  north  from  the  east  and  west  center 
road  to  the  line  of  the  abandoned  route. 


HISTOEY    OF    GAKLAND,     MAINE 

Road  to  Dexter 

The  third  road  established  in  1811,  is  the  road  run- 
ning from  the  center  of  Garland  village  to  the  west  line 
of  the  town  towards  Dexter  village.  The  families  living 
on  the  line  of  this  road  in  1811  were  those  of  William 
Godwin,  James  Holbrook,  Enoch  Clough,  Moses 
Gordon,  John  S.  H«iskell  and  Isaac  Copeland.  Two 
short  pieces  of  road  were  established  in  the  southwest 
part  of  the  town  in  1811.  Living  upon  the  lines  of 
these  roads  were  the  families  of  Edward  Fifield,  John 
Hayes  and  Cutteon  Flanders. 

The  fifth  road  established  on  the  22d  day  of  April, 
1811,  is  the  road  with  slight  variations,  beginning  where 
D.  F.  Patten  now  lives  at  the  top  of  the  hill  about  two 
miles  directly  north  from  the  center  of  the  present  vil- 
Ictge  and  extending  southerly  through  the  village  to  a 
point  about  one  half  mile  south.  Some  years  later  this 
road  was  extended  to  Exeter  line.  An  angle  in  it,  a 
half  mile  below  the  village,  gave  the  road  a  southeas- 
terly direction.  It  crossed  the  south  line  of  the  town 
about  one  and  one  half  miles  west  of  its  southeast 
comer. 

The  families  living  on  or  near  this  road  in  1811,  were 
those  of  the  Rev.  John  Sawyer,  Abner  Bond,  John 
Jackman,  Ezekiel  Straw,  Isaac  Wheeler,  William 
Church,  John  Grant  and  John  Knight.  About  1816, 
the  section  of  this  road  extending  from  the  center  of 
Garland  village  to  its  south  line,  became  a  section  of  the 
county  road  from  western  Piscataquis  to  Bangor  which 
has  been  known  as  the  old  county  road  to  Bangor. 

The  sixth  road  established  in  1811  was  described  as 
extending  from  Thomas  S.  Tyler's  to  Enoch  Jackman 's. 
Enoch  Jackman  then  lived  in  the  house  afterward  occu- 
pied   by  Henry  Calef   and    Asa  Cram,   located  on    the 


384  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

opposite  side  of  the  road  from  the  present  residence  of 
Edwin  Greeley,  and  a  little  to  the  south  of  it. 

The  seventh  and  last  road,  established  in  1811, 
extended  easterly  from  a  point  a  little  south  of  the  vil- 
lage mills,  to  the  site  of  the  Burnham  Cemetery,  thence 
northerly  to  the  point  of  intersection  with  the  east  and 
west  center  road.  There  were  but  two  families  living 
upon  this  road  in  1811,  William  Sargent  upon  the  site 
of  the  present  residence  of  James  Rideout,  and  James 
McCluer  on  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  David 
Allen.  A  few  years  later  the  section  of  this  road  run- 
ning easterly  to  the  cemetery  near  the  schoolhouse  in 
district  seven,  gave  place  to  the  present  road. 

These  roads  were  established  at  the  first  town  meeting 
by  the  authority  of  the  town,  the  previous  meeting  hav- 
ing assembled  under  the  authority  of  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Their  aggregate  length  was  about  twenty 
miles,  equal  to  fully  one-fourth  of  the  aggregate  mileage 
of  the  roads  of  the  town  to-day. 

The  inquiry  naturally  arises  why  so  many  miles  of 
road  were  required  for  the  number  of  families  living  in 
the  town  in  1811.  This  is  easily  explained.  By  the 
policy  of  the  original  proprietors  every  alternate  range 
of  lots  from  east  to  west  was  withheld  from  sale  with  the 
expectation  that  these  lots  would  ultimately  bring  higher 
prices.  This  policy  had  the  effect  to  scatter  the  homes 
of  the  early  settlers  widely  over  the  town. 

The  road  that  leads  from  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
mills  at  West  Garland  was  established  in  1816.  This 
road  originally  terminated  at  the  Murdock  place  but 
upon  the  completion  of  the  Avenue  road  in  1842  this 
section  was  discontinued. 

The  road  running  north  from  the  east  and  west  Center 
road,  passing  the  present  residence  of  George  Ricker, 
was  established  in  1819.      This  was  the  first  road  lead- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  S85 

ing  north  from  the  east  and  west  center  road  toward  the 
summit  of  the  hilly  range.  The  road  running  north 
from  the  east  and  west  center  road,  passing  the  residence 
of  E.  B.  Strout,  was  established  in  1821. 

The  road  running  north  from  the  east  and  west  center 
road  on  the  east  line  of  the  town  was  established  in  1825 
for  the  convenience  of  the  Robert  Seward  place,  later 
occupied  by  the  late  J.  Clark  Richardson.  The  road 
running  north  from  the  east  and  west  center  road  from 
a  point  a  few  rods  east  of  the  schoolhouse  in  school 
district  No.  4,  to  the  summit  of  the  hilly  range,  was 
established  in  1826. 

Among  the  early  residents  on  this  road,  were  the 
families  of  Eben  Battles,  Jacob  Quimby,  Samuel,  Isaac, 
John  and  Stephen  Ladd,  David  Stewart,  John  Perry  and 
John  Whiting.  The  road  extending  from  Garland  vil- 
lage to  the  south  line  of  the  town  toward  Exeter  Corner 
was  established  on  the  route  now  traveled,  in  1830. 
The  early  families  living  on  or  near  this  road  were  those 
of  Benjamin  H.  Oak,  George  Curtis,  David  Johnson, 
Samuel  W.  Knight,  Israel  CoUey,  Zebulon  Knight  and 
Elijah  Norton. 

The  northwest  county  road,  which  was  a  section  of 
the  county  road  extending  from  Dover  to  Dexter,  was 
established  about  the  year  1830,  by  authority  of  the 
county  of  Penobscot.  In  1824  the  road  extending  east- 
erly from  Garland  village  to  the  site  of  the  Bumham 
Cemetery  was  continued  to  the  site  of  the  present  resi- 
dence of  Thomas  B.  Packard,  and  in  1830  it  was  con- 
tinued to  the  east  line  of  the  town.  There  have  been 
slight  changes  in  the  route  of  this  road  from  time  to 
time,  the  most  important  of  which  was  made  in  1855 
from  the  foot  of  the  hill,  known  as  the  Preble  hill,  to 
the  Oak  store. 

Among  the  earlier  residents  upon  this  road  were  the 


SS6  HISTOKT    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

families  of  Enoch  Clough,  the  Rev.  S.  Rice,  Daniel 
Ladd,  Stephen  Smith,  William  Sargent,  Joseph  Sargent, 
Joseph  Prescott,  Jeremiah  Avery,  Gilbert  Wallace, 
Edward  Richardson,  Mark  Burnham,  George  R.  Coffin, 
Leonard  Skillin,  George  Field  and  Henry  Hicks. 

The  south  road  from  Garland  village  to  West  Garland 
was  established  in  1823.  The  early  families  upon  this 
road  were  those  of  Elisha  Nye,  Benjamin  Pressey, 
Andrew  Smith,  Charles  Shepherd,  Noah  Parkman, 
Shepherd  Parkman,  Albert  Parkman,  Oreson  Parkman, 
William,  Gideon,  David  and  John  Soule,  Jonathan 
Lyford  and  the  Rev.  Asa  Burnham. 

The  Avenue  road  was  established  by  the  county  in 
1835.  The  section  within  the  limits  of  Garland  is 
about  four  miles  in  length.  It  was  not  passable  for 
heavy  teams  until  1844. 

The  road  from  the  site  of  Evergreen  Cemetery  to  the 
Crowell  mill  site  was  established  about  the  year  1834 
and  was  continued  to  the  old  county  road  a  few  years 
later.  The  early  families  upon  or  near  this  road  were 
those  of  Josiah,  Samuel  and  James  Skillin,  James 
Pillsbury  and  Solomon  Allen.  The  road  running  from 
the  schoolhouse  at  West  Garland,  to  the  west  line  of  the 
town  toward  Dexter  village  was  established  in  1833. 
The  early  families  upon  this  road  were  those  of  Daniel 
M.  and  William  S.  Haskell. 

The  road  running  from  the  schoolhouse  in  district 
No.  10  to  the  north  line  of  the  town  toward  Dover  vil- 
lage, was  established  in  1837.  The  early  families  upon 
this  road  were  those  of  James  Straw,  Samuel  Bridge, 
Stephen  A.  Berry,  Simon  French,  James  Hall,  William 
Hunt  and  Richard  Bickell.  The  road  extending 
southerly  from  the  northwest  corner  of  the  farm  owned 
by  Thomas  B.  Packard  to  the  south  line  of  the  town 
was  established  in  1837. 


HISTOEY    OF    GASLAND,     MAINE  337 

The  road  running  west  on  the  north  line  of  the  town 
from  the  Dover  to  the  Sangerville  road  was  established 
in  1844.  The  early  families  upon  this  road  were  those 
of  Mr.  Merrill  and  Hermon  Beal  on  the  Dover  side  and 
George  W.  Ricker  and  George  W.  Ireland  on  the  Gar- 
land side.  The  county  road  leading  from  the  southeast 
comer  of  the  town  to  Garland  village  was  established  in 
two  sections  at  different  dates.  The  first  section,  termi- 
nating at  Holt's  Mills,  was  established  in  1858.  Four 
years  later  the  route  was  continued  to  Garland  village. 

The  notch  county  road  derives  its  name  from  the 
notch  or  cut  through  the  hilly  range  traversing  the 
northerly  section  of  the  town  from  east  to  west.  This 
road  was  established  in  1846  by  the  joint  action  of  the 
county  commissioners  of  Penobscot  and  Piscataquis 
Counties.  Its  construction  had  just  been  completed  at 
large  expense  when  the  advent  of  the  Bangor  &  Piscata- 
quis Railroad  rendered  it  practically  useless. 


The  Present  Trend  of  Merchandise 

Since  the  advent  of  railroads  to  this  section  the  trend 
of  merchandise  has  been  to  and  from  the  various  railroad 
stations  instead  of  Bangor  as  a  common  center.  Hence 
the  town  roads  leading  to  and  from  railroad  stations 
have  become  of  more  importance  to  the  public  than  the 
earlier  county  roads,  the  latter  being  but  little  used 
except  for  local  travel. 

There  have  been  but  few  calls  for  new  roads  since  the 
completion  of  the  notch  road.  The  total  length  of 
roads  in  town  is  fully  sixty  miles.  The  history  of  the 
roads  in  Garland,  which  has  been  briefly  given,  includes 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

the  date  of  their  establishment,  their  extent,  the  hard- 
ships of  the  earlier  settlers  in  opening  channels  of  com- 
munication with  each  other  and  the  inhabitants  of  other 
towns,  the  dates  of  the  settlement  of  the  different  sec- 
tions of  the  town,  the  names  of  the  families  who  settled 
upon  these  roads,  and  the  date  when  the  transportation 
of  heavy  merchandise  was  transferred  from  the  county 
roads  to  town  roads  leading  to  railroad  stations. 


A  Sketch  of  the  History  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Garland 

The  early  records  of  this  church  were  accidentally 
burned.  Its  early  history  is  therefore  mainly  tradi- 
tional. The  incidents  herein  given  were  obtained  many 
years  ago  from  the  lips  of  some  of  its  original  members 
and  their  accuracy  is  confirmed  by  testimony  from  inde- 
pendent sources.  Religious  meetings  were  not  of 
frequent  or  regular  occurrence  during  the  first  years  of 
the  settlement.  Many  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town- 
ship, then  known  as  Lincolntown,  having  been  religiously 
educated  in  the  distant  homes  of  their  childhood  keenly 
felt  their  destitution  of  religious  privileges.  The 
Christian  Sabbath,  which  they  had  formerly  observed  as 
a  day  of  rest  and  devoted  to  religious  and  spiritual 
improvement,  now  gave  no  sign  of  its  presence  save  by  a 
partial  cessation  of  the  ordinary  employments  of  the 
week  and  the  interchange  of  visits  among  the  scattered 
families. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  in  the  winter 
of  1806  the  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  one  of  the  ubiquitous 
family  of  ministers  of  that  name,  first  visited  the  town- 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

ship  and  preached,  as  good  Deacon  Haskell  afterwards 
expressed  it,  '  'to  the  starving  souls  of  the  wilderness. ' ' 
Mr.  Sewall  was  the  first  minister  to  visit  the  township. 
He  preached  at  the  residence  of  Joseph  Garland.  This 
was  the  first  sermon  in  the  township  and  the  people 
from  the  scattering  families  heard  him  gladly.  In  their 
eagerness  to  hear  the  words  of  the  living  preacher, 
denominational  preferences  were  forgotten. 

Mr.  Sewall  subsequently  made  several  visits  to  the 
township.  In  sentiment  he  was  a  Congregationalist. 
Afterwards  Mr.  Lord  of  Harmony,  a  Methodist, 
preached  several  times  in  different  parts  of  the  township, 
once  at  Deacon  Haskell's  residence.  A  Mr.  Cay  ford 
preached  occasionally  in  Mr.  Garland's  barn  in  the  warm 
season  of  the  year.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Kilby,  a  Methodist, 
and  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Joseph  Garland,  preached  occa- 
sionally in  the  township. 

No  other  ministers  are  known  to  have  been  in  the 
township  until  the  advent  of  the  Rev.  John  Sawyer  in 
the  year  1809.  Mr.  Sawyer  bore  with  him  a  commis- 
sion from  the  Maine  Missionary  Society,  then  recently 
organized,  and  entered  upon  his  work  in  the  wilderness 
with  characteristic  zeal.  Through  his  efforts  a  church 
was  organized  in  the  month  of  March,  1810,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Joseph  Garland,  the  first  settler.  The  ministers 
officiating  at  the  organization  were  Reverends  John 
Sawyer,  Hezekiah  May  of  Brownville  township,  Jonathan 
Fisher  of  Bluehill,  and  perhaps  Mighill  Blood  of  Bucks- 
port. 

At  the  date  of  this  organization  there  were  only  two 
Congregational  churches  within  the  present  limits  of 
Penobscot  County.  One  at  Brewer,  organized  Septem- 
ber 7,  1800,  and  one  at  Dixmont,  organized  November 
16,  1807,  which  is  now  extinct.  The  church  at  Garland 
was  called  the    Congregational  church  of    Lincolntown 


340  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

and  vicinity  until  the  incorporation  of  the  town  in  1811 
and  its  organization  has  been  perpetuated  to  the  present 
time.  It  included  in  its  membership  residents  of  other 
towns.  The  persons  uniting  with  the  church  at  the 
time  of  its  organization  were  John  S.  Haskell,  Joshua 
Silver  and  wife,  Jacob  Silver,  Theophilus  Morgan,  Mrs. 
Nancy  Gordon,  Mrs.  Justus  Harriman,  Mrs.  Garland, 
Mrs.  Bond  and  Mrs.  Morgan. 

A  meeting  was  held  in  July,  1810,  to  complete  the 
organization,  when  John  Pratt,  Mrs.  Ezekiel  Straw, 
Mrs.  Weatherbee  of  Elkinstown,  now  Dexter,  and  Mrs. 
Haskell,  probably  Deacon  John  S.  Haskell's  wife,  were 
admitted  to  membership.  At  this  meeting,  nineteen 
persons,  adults  and  children,  received  the  ordinance  of 
baptism.  The  ministers  in  attendance  were  Reverends 
John  Sawyer  and  Hezekiah  Bailey  of  New  Castle. 

A  few  years  later  members  were  received  into  this 
church  from  Piscataquis  County.  Among  these  were 
Deacon  Carpenter  and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner,  Mrs. 
Mitchell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradbury,  Mrs.  Chamberlain 
and  Mrs.  Sherburne  from  Foxcroft;  Mrs.  Bolton,  Mrs. 
Buck  and  others  from  Dover,  and  Mr.  Loring  and  wife 
from  Guilford.  This  relatively  large  addition  was  the 
occasion  of  great  interest  and  encouragement  to  the  little 
church  in  the  wilderness  and  the  sympathy  between 
those  who  came  and  those  who  received  was  warm  and 
active.  The  late  Rev.  Amasa  Loring,  the  historian  of 
Piscataquis  County,  said  in  a  letter  to  the  writer,  *  'This 
was  the  heroic  age  of  Christian  life  in  this  new  region. 
If  a  notice  was  sent  forward  that  a  lecture  would  be 
preached  at  a  certain  time  and  place,  the  news  was 
spread  from  house  to  house,  and  when  the  preacher 
arrived,  all  who  could  were  sure  to  be  present.  When  a 
communion  season  occurred,  distant  members,  both  men 
and  women,  would  ride  on  horseback  twelve  or  fifteen 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  341 

miles  over  rough  and  miry  paths,  guided  on  their  dubi* 
ous  way  by  spotted  trees  to  attend  church  conference  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  tarry  with  Christian  friends  over 
night,  participate  in  the  solemnities  of  the  Sabbath  and 
retrace  their  steps  homeward  on  Monday  morning 
through  those  gloomy  forest  ways,  cheered  and  strength- 
ened by  the  spiritual  repast  they  had  just  enjoyed.  In 
winter,  whole  families  were  sometimes  carried  those  long 
distances  on  sleds  drawn  by  oxen  that  they  might  enjoy 
Christian  communion  and  fellowship,  and  that  parents 
might  secure  the  rite  of  baptism  for  their  children."  In 
after  days,  one  good  old  church  member  of  Foxcroft, 
when  recounting  the  incidents  of  his  journeys  to  Garland 
to  attend  meetings  would,  in  his  enthusiasm,  get  a  little 
mixed.  On  one  such  occasion  he  averred  that  he  would 
hitch  his  oxen  to  the  sled  and  drive  to  Garland  with  his 
children  and  wife,  good  woman,  she's  gone  to  heaven 
now  by  a  spotted  line.  The  church  at  Garland  was 
blessed  with  a  healthy  growth  for  several  years  under  the 
ministrations  of  Father  Sawyer. 

He  may  have  received  the  assistance  of  other  ministers 
but  to  what  extent  or  by  whom,  tradition  does  not 
inform  us.  In  1822,  the  church  suffered  severe  loss  by 
the  withdrawal  of  the  members,  eighteen  in  number,  liv- 
ing in  the  Piscataquis  valley,  to  organize  a  church  after- 
wards known  as  the  church  of  Foxcroft  and  vicinity. 
The  first  pastor  of  the  new  church  at  Foxcroft  was  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Williams.  This  withdrawal  left  but  a 
single  male  member  in  the  church  at  Garland,  Deacon 
John  S.  Haskell.  According  to  the  Congregational 
policy  of  the  times  it  required  at  least  two  male  members 
to  make  valid  the  dismissal  of  members  to  other  church 
organizations.  Happily  Ansel  Field  and  wife  became 
residents  of  Garland  about  that  time  and  soon  united 
with  the  church.      The  difficulty  in  the  way  of  giving 


342  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

the  Piscataquis  members  a    formal  dismission  was  thus 
overcome. 

At  the  time  of  the  dismissal  of  these  members  Deacon 
Pratt  of  Foxcroft  was  clerk  of  the  Garland  church  and 
had  its  records  at  his  house  which  was  burned  shortly 
after  and  the  records  were  thus  lost.  This  explains  the 
absence  of  the  church's  records  for  the  first  twelve  years 
of  its  existence.  In  the  period  from  1810  to  1822  some 
of  the  original  resident  members  of  the  church  renounced 
Congregationalism  and  embraced  the  Universalist  faith. 
This  was  another  source  of  depletion,  and  was  undoubt- 
edly due  to  the  severity  of  Father  Sawyer's  religious 
creed.  But  in  spite  of  these  discouragements  the  little 
church  lost  neither  faith  nor  hope.  It  was  strengthened 
from  time  to  time  by  in-coming  residents  who  entered 
its  ranks. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  of 
Garland,  held  August  6,  1825,  it  was  voted  to  give  the 
Rev.  Isaac  E.  Wilkins  a  call  to  become  its  minister  upon 
certain  specified  conditions  having  reference  to  his  sup- 
port. Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  Deacon  John  S.  Haskell, 
Walter  Holbrook,  Ansel  Field  and  Justus  Harriman, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  Wilkins  and 
acquaint  him  with  the  action  of  the  town,  and  ascertain 
whether  the  conditions  were  satisfactory. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  August  11,  the  com- 
mittee reported  that  Mr.  Wilkins  had  indicated  his 
acceptance  of  the  necessary  conditions,  whereupon  the 
town  voted  to  give  him  a  call  to  become  its  minister. 
Isaac  Wheeler,  Esq.,  Justus  Harriman  and  Daniel  Ladd 
were  appointed  to  inform  Mr.  Wilkins  of  this  action  of 
the  town.  The  town  also  voted  to  pay  Mr.  Wilkins 
one  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  for  one  year,  one  third  in 
money,  and  the  other  two  thirds  in  grain,  labor,  or  what 
should  be  necessary  for    his  support  and  comfort  as  a 


HISTORY    OF    GAltLAND,     MAINE  S43 

minister  of  the  Gospel.  By  virtue  of  this  action  Mr. 
Wilkins  became  Garland's  first  settled  minister. 

He  had  been  educated  at  the  Bangor  Theological 
Seminary,  and  was  Congregationalist  in  creed.  He, 
with  candidates  of  other  denominations,  had  occasionally 
preached  in  town.  Up  to  this  time  the  Congregational 
church  had  been  the  only  organized  church  in  town.  It 
was  fitting  that  the  preference  of  this  church  should  be 
consulted  in  the  selection  of  a  minister. 

Mr.  Wilkins  was  installed  on  October  12,  1825,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Congregational  church.  It  was  an 
occasion  of  great  interest.  A  platform  had  been  built 
where  the  Congregational  meetinghouse  now  stands  and 
was  sheltered  by  a  bower  of  evergreen  boughs.  In  front 
of  it  was  a  large  and  interested  audience.  Rev.  Pro- 
fessor Smith  of  the  Bangor  Seminar^-,  the  Rev.  S.  L. 
Pomroy  of  Bangor,  Rev.  Thomas  Williams  of  Foxcroft, 
and  Rev.  N.  W.  Sheldon  with  numerous  lay  delegates 
composed  the  council.  Professor  Smith  preached  the 
sermon  which  was  afterwards  published. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  statements  that 
Garland's  first  settled  minister  was  settled  by  the  town. 
For  an  explanation  of  this  we  must  go  back  to  a  former 
century.  The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  was  the 
owner  of  the  Province  of  Maine  until  the  Act  of  Separ- 
ation in  1820. 

The  public  men  of  that  State  took  great  interest  in 
their  Eastern  Province  and  were  always  ready  to  aid  in 
measures  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  towns  which  were 
springing  into  existence  over  its  surface.  In  the  year 
1796  that  State  gave  the  township  we  now  call  Garland 
to  Williams  College,  located  in  the  town  of  Williamston, 
Mass.  It  was  then  a  wilderness  without  a  human  habi- 
tation or  even  a  name.  It  was  designated  as  township 
number  three,  in  the  fifth  range  of  townships  north  of 


844  HISTOKY   OF    6A&LAKP,    MAINE 

the  Waldo  Patent.  Among  the  conditions  of  this  gift 
to  the  college  was  the  reservation  of  three  lots  of  land  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  each  for  certain  public 
purposes.  One  of  these  lots  was  reserved  for  the  benefit 
of  the  first  settled  minister,  to  which  Mr.  Wilkins  was 
clearly  entitled.  In  his  engagement  however  he  cov- 
enanted to  deed  to  the  town  three  eighths  of  this  lot. 
The  reason  for  this  is  not  shown  by  the  records  and 
must  therefore  be  a  matter  of  inference.  He  would  need 
means  for  the  support  of  his  family  before  he  could 
realize  anything  from  the  sale  of  his  land.  The  pre- 
sumption is  that  he  relinquished  to  the  town  three 
eighths  of  the  land  that  belonged  to  him  as  the  first 
settled  minister,  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  dollars  promised  him  by  the  town  for 
one  year's  service.  It  is  also  probable  that  this  sum 
was  raised  by  voluntary  subscription.  There  are  no 
records  to  show  that  the  town,  as  a  municipality,  con- 
tributed to  his  support  after  the  first  year. 

Having  been  installed,  Mr.  Wilkins  entered  upon  his 
work  with  zeal  and  hope.  He  resided  in  the  house  as  it 
then  was,  now  occupied  by  the  Clark  family  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  village.  The  place  of  his  regular  ministra- 
tion upon  the  Sabbath  was  at  the  old  Center  schoolhouse 
which  was  located  at  the  geographical  center  of  the 
town,  and  which  at  that  time,  afforded  the  largest  audi- 
ence room  in  town.  Mr.  Wilkins  was  a  man  of  pleasing 
address,  dignified  bearing,  good  abilities  and  a  ready  off 
hand  speaker.  His  relations  with  his  people  were  of  a 
pleasant  character. 

The  expenses  of  a  growing  family,  transcending  the 
ability  of  his  parishioners  to  pay,  his  pastorate  termi- 
nated September  2,  1830.  At  this  time  there  were 
three  evangelical  churches  in  the  town,  the  Baptist,  Free 
Will  Baptist,  afterwards  known  as  the  Free  Baptist,  and 


HTSTORT    OF    GARLAND,    MAINE  &45 

the  Congregational  church.  There  was  also  a  Methodist 
organization  in  the  town.  The  first  three  denominations 
mentioned,  united  for  the  purpose  of  sustaining  meet- 
ings, each  in  turn  supplying  someone  to  preach  to  the 
people  when  practicable,  or  to  conduct  religious  services 
when  no  minister  appeared. 

The  Maine  Missionary  Society  furnished  preaching  for 
a  few  Sabbaths  each  year.  Among  those  sent  by  this 
society  were  the  Reverends  Calvin  White,  Lewis  Pennell, 
John  A.  Vinton,  Aurelius  Swift  and  James  Caruthers,  a 
native  of  Scotland.  The  aid  furnished  by  the  Missionary 
Society  was  supplemented  by  the  voluntary  subscription 
of  the  people.  Mr.  Caruthers  attracted  the  attention 
of  his  hearers  by  his  great  size,  fervid  zeal  and  Scotch 
dialect. 

While  as  a  general  rule  the  current  of  brotherly  sym- 
pathy ran  smoothly  along  through  this  trio  of  religious 
societies,  there  was  occasionally  a  ripple  of  disturbance. 
At  the  close  of  a  preaching  service  Mr.  Caruthers 
announced  that  he  would  preach  to  this  people  in  one 
week  when  a  Baptist  brother  sprang  to  his  feet  and  gave 
notice  that  a  minister  of  his  denomination  was  expected 
to  occupy  the  desk  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Caruthers 
then  announced  that  he  would  preach  from  this  desk  in 
two  weeks.  A  Free  Baptist  brother  arose  to  say  that  a 
minister  of  his  denomination  had  an  appointment  to 
preach  here  in  two  weeks.  Instantaneously  the  tower- 
ing form  of  Mr.  Caruthers  presented  itself  to  the  audi- 
ence, and  in  his  Scotch  dialect,  intensified  by  excitement, 
he  announced  that  "in  theee  weeks  from  this  day,   i 

WILL  PREACH  TO  THIS  PEOPLE  IF  I  CAN  FIND  THE  BRANCH  OF 
A  TREE  TO  SHELTER  ME  'eAD.  " 

At  the  termination  of  the  arrangement  whereby  the 
three  societies  had  held  religious  meetings  together  the 
Congregational  society  worshipped  by  itself  for  a  time. 


846  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

At  the  meetings  of  the  society  on  the  Sabbath  Deacon 
Stephen  Smith,  a  good  reader,  procured  the  printed 
sermons  of  eminent  ministers  and  read  them  to  the 
people,  Meetings  thus  conducted  were  interesting  and 
profitable. 

'*Protracted  meetings,"  extending  through  four  or 
five  days,  were  of  yearly  occurrence,  and  were  partici- 
pated in  by  the  religious  people  of  the  town.  One  of 
these  meetings  was  favored  by  the  presence  of  the  Rev. 
Jotham  Sewall.  Mr.  Sewall  was  a  man  of  large  size  and 
impressive  personality  and  was  known  throughout  the 
State  for  his  earnest  and  effective  appeals  to  religious 
life.  The  writer,  then  a  boy  of  sixteen,  was  a  listener 
to  one  of  his  sermons.  At  the  end  of  one  of  his  most 
impassioned  appeals  an  incident  invested  with  a  dramatic 
element  occurred.  He  had  listened,  he  said,  to  a  sermon 
by  Whitefield  who,  after  an  earnest  appeal  to  the 
unconverted,  suddenly  paused  and  bringing  one  foot 
forcibly  to  the  floor,  exclaimed,  **Stop;  Gabriel,  stop; 
do  not  return  to  the  heavenly  portals  until  you  can  carry 
the  news  that,  at  least  one  soul  has  been  converted. ' ' 

In  1835,  inspired  by  the  faith,  zeal,  and  indomitable 
courage  of  the  veteran  missionary  of  Eastern  Maine,  the 
Rev.  John  Sawyer,  the  church  and  society  entered  upon 
measures  for  building  a  meetinghouse.  A  company  was 
organized  to  be  known  as  the  Congregational  Meeting 
House  Company  of  Garland.  A  constitution  and  by- 
laws were  adopted  to  go  into  effect  when  the  company 
should  be  legally  incorporated.  It  was  provided  that 
the  stock  should  be  divided  into  twenty -four  shares  of 
fifty  dollars  each,  and  that  when  eighteen  or  more  shares 
should  have  been  taken,  the  location  of  the  building 
should  be  fixed,  its  size  and  style  determined,  and  a 
building  committee  appointed.  One  of  the  by-laws 
forbade  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  in  raising  the  house,  or 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  347 

in  any  part  of  the  work  connected  with  its  construction. 
There  was  considerable  preliminary  discussion  as  to  the 
size  and  style  of  the  building.  The  members  of  the 
church  and  society  were  struggling  to  meet  the  ordinaiy 
demands  upon  their  resources.  All  felt  the  necessity  of 
economy  of  expenditure  in  its  construction.  Some 
favored  a  very  small  and  plain  building,  bare  of  belfry 
or  steeple.  Others  contended  that  its  size  must  be 
determined  by  prospective  as  well  as  present  necessities, 
and  that  a  bell  would  be  among  the  wants  of  the  future, 
which  would  require  a  belfry. 

Louis  Goulding,  a  member  of  the  church,  who  was 
always  ready  with  a  facetious  remark  upon  subjects  com- 
ical or  serious,  said  that  **The  purpose  was  to  build  a 
house  for  God.  Without  belfry  or  steeple  it  would  be 
God's  bam  and  not  God's  house."  The  size  and  style, 
and  all  necessary  preliminary  matters,  were  at  length 
determined,  and  plans  were  prepared.  Benjamin  H. 
Oak  was  appointed  treasurer,  who  with  the  Rev.  John 
Sawyer  and  William  Godwin  were  constituted  a  build- 
ing committee.  The  eighteen  shares,  the  condition 
precedent  to  building,  had  been  taken  and  the  work  was 
entered  upon  at  once. 

Austin  Newell  of  Monson,  an  experienced  builder,  was 
employed  to  take  charge  of  the  construction  of  the  build- 
ing. ITie  original  subscribers  to  the  stock  were  Deacon 
Smith,  Deacon  John  S.  Haskell,  and  the  Rev.  John 
Sawyer,  who  subscribed  for  two  shares  each,  and  George 
Curtis,  Josiah  Merriam,  Joseph  True,  Jr.,  James 
Greeley,  Abraham  True,  Lewis  Goulding,  Benjamin  H. 
Oak,  Isaac  Wheeler,  William  Godwin,  Jacob  Greeley, 
Raymond  Copeland,  J.  Holyoke,  and  H.  N.  Pake,  who 
subscribed  for  one  share  each. 

The  two  last  named  subscribers  were  citizens  of 
Brewer.     The  foundation  of  the  meetinghouse  was  built 


848  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

and  the  frame  raised  and  covered  in  1835.  Here  the 
work  rested  until  the  following  spring.  The  raising  of 
the  building  called  together  a  large  number  of  willing 
helpers  as  well  as  spectators.  A  bountiful  dinner  and 
an  abundant  supply  of  hot  coffee  took  the  place  of  the 
stimulants  which,  in  earlier  days,  were  deemed  necessary 
to  the  successful  raising  of  large  buildings. 

In  the  spring  of  1836  work  was  renewed  on  the  church 
by  Mr.  Newell,  who  had  entered  upon  a  contract  to 
complete  the  building.  Early  in  1837  the  new  church 
was  finished  and  dedicated.  Occupying  a  commanding 
site  in  the  center  of  the  village,  its  modest  belfry  has 
through  all  the  years  indicated  the  high  purpose  of  its 
construction,  and  announced  to  the  passing  stranger  that 
there  are  people  in  this  community  who  know  the 
Christian's  Sabbath  and  worship  the  Christian's  God. 

When  the  church  was  completed  considerable  money 
was  realized  from  the  sale  of  pews  to  individuals.  Still 
the  Meeting  House  Company  found  itself  in  debt  and 
several  years  passed  before  the  debt  was  fully  paid. 
Father  Sawyer  appealed  to  acquaintances  in  Bangor  and 
Brewer  for  aid  to  pay  the  debt  who  responded  in  five 
and  ten  dollar  subscriptions. 

Edward  Hill  of  New  York,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Josiah 
Merriam,  contributed  liberally  to  this  fund.  The  late 
Colonel  John  S.  Kimball  of  Bangor  is  authority  for  the 
statement  that  Father  Sawyer's  zeal  in  aid  of  building 
the, church,  led  him  to  mortgage  his  farm  to  raise  money 
to  pay  his  subscription  to  the  building  fund  and  that 
a  short  time  previous  to  his  death  a  pension  from  the 
Government  for  services  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
enabled  his  friends  to  pay  the  balance  due  on  the  mort- 
gage and  redeem  the  farm. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  349 

Pastorate  of  the  Rev.   S.   S.   Drake 

In  1837,  the  Rev.  S.  S.  Drake  became  the  acting 
pastor  of  the  parish.  He  had  previously  labored  here 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society. 
He  was  installed  as  pastor  February  24,  1841,  and  filled 
the  pastorate  until  March,  1847,  when  his  relations  to 
the  parish  were  severed.  Mr.  Drake  was  a  pleasing  and 
popular  preacher,  and  his  relations  to  the  church  had,  in 
the  main,  been  pleasant  and  satisfactory,  but  unfor- 
tunately cases  of  discipline  were  followed  by  dissensions 
that  could  not  be  healed  so  long  as  he  remained  its 
pastor. 

The  Congregational  meetinghouse  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy about  the  time  that  Mr.  Drake  commenced  his 
term  of  service,  and  he  preached  from  its  pulpit  for  a 
period  of  about  ten  years.  Mr.  Drake  was  followed  by 
Mr.  P.  B.  ITiayer,  then  a  recent  graduate  of  Bangor 
Theological  Seminary.  Before  the  completion  of  his 
course  at  the  seminary  he  was  introduced  to  members  of 
the  Congregational  church  by  a  personal  friend  whom  he 
was  visiting,  and  by  invitation,  he  occasionally  preached 
from  the  Congregational  pulpit.  These  pulpit  efforts 
were  followed  by  a  unanimous  call  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  church.  Accepting  the  call,  his  ordination  and 
installatiqn  took  place  on  December  21,  1848. 

The  members  of  the  council  on  this  interesting  occa- 
sion were  the  Revs.  Wooster  Parker  of  the  Foxcroft  and 
Dover  church,  E.  G.  Carpenter  of  the  Dexter  church, 
W.  S.  Sewall  of  the  Brownville  church  and  Horatio 
Illsley  of  the  Monson  church.  Revs.  Henry  White  and 
Enselius  Hale  were  present.  TLTie  pastorate,  so  auspi- 
ciously opened  in  1848,  extended  to  May,  1896,  a  period 
of  almost  forty -eight  years  without  a  break ;  the  longest 
pastorate  then  existing  in  New  England  in  the  Congre- 


850  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

gational  line  save  one  in  Massachusetts,  and  it  is  not  too 
much  to  say,  a  pastorate  whose  harmony  was  very 
seldom  disturbed  by  discordant  sounds. 

The  persons  who  have  officiated  as  deacons  of  this 
church  are  John  S.  Haskell,  Joel  Pratt,  Stephen  Smith, 
George  Curtis,  Samuel  Coan,  John  Rideout,  Luther 
Rideout,  Boardman  Wood  and  Martin  Rideout,  none  of 
whom  are  now  living.  The  present  deacon  is  Stephen 
R.  Came.  The  clerks  have  been  Joel  Pratt,  Stephen 
Smith,  Rev.  P.  B.  Thayer  and  Miss  Sarah  A.  Curtis. 
Miss  Curtis  served  long  and  efficiently  and  is  still  clerk 
at  this  time,  (1911).  The  Rev.  T.  W.  Harwood 
followed  Mr.  Thayer  as  pastor. 

Mr.  Harwood  was  a  graduate  of  the  Bangor  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  and  his  religious  views  were  in 
harmony  with  the  teachings  of  that  institution.  He 
was  a  man  of  fine  abilities.  His  sermons  were  logical, 
instructive  and  uplifting  and  he  never  failed  to  hold  the 
attention  of  his  audience  while  speaking.  From  his 
large  fund  of  information  he  drew  material  for  frequent 
interesting  and  instructive  lectures  upon  moral,  religious 
and  secular  subjects. 


Historical  Sketch  of  the  Free  Baptist  Church 

At  the  opening  of  the  present  century  the  Free  Bap- 
tist denomination  was  in  its  infancy.  The  simplicity  of 
its  creed  and  the  earnestness  of  the  appeals  of  its 
ministers  attracted  to  its  membership  many  of  the 
earlier  inhabitants  of  Garland.  In  1809,  the  Rev.  Asa 
Burnham  from  Nottingham,  N.  H.,  a  minister  of  the 
Free  Baptist  denomination  and  an  excellent  man,  moved 
into  the  township,  and  commenced  making  a  home  for 
his  family  upon  land  formerly  owned  by  Robert  Seward. 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  351 

Josiah  Bartlett,  afterwards  known  as  Elder  Josiah 
Bartlett,  was  the  first  citizen  of  the  new  township  to 
express  a  preference  for  the  Free  Baptist  creed  in  a 
public  manner,  and  this  he  did  by  receiving  the  ordi- 
nance of  baptism  at  the  home  of  Elder  Burnham  on  the 
last  day  of  December,  1809.  A  little  later  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Sally  Bartlett,  was  baptized  by  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Hutchins  of  New  Portland,  Maine. 

The  Free  Baptists  of  that  time  had  no  organized 
system  of  missions.  This,  and  other  towns,  were  visited 
from  time  to  time  by  ministers  drawn  thither,  in  the 
parlance  of  the  times,  by  the  leadings  of  Providence, 
Among  them  were  Elders  Joseph  Farewell,  Samuel 
Hutchins  and  Lincoln  Lewis.  From  1820  to  1825 
prayer  and  conference  meetings  were  held  at  the  Center 
and  other  schoolhouses,  which  were  freely  participated 
in  by  members  of  other  denominations.  The  spirit  of 
union  which  prevailed  at  that  early  day  has  happily  been 
perpetuated  to  the  present  time. 

In  1825,  it  had  become  the  settled  conviction  of 
several  persons  that  a  church  of  the  Free  Will  Bap- 
tist denomination  should  become  a  verity. 

Acting  upon  this  conviction  a  council  consisting  of 
Elder  John  Page  and  Deacons  Ebenezer  Towle  and 
Joseph  Walker  of  Exeter  assembled  on  the  9th  day  of 
April,  1825,  when  a  church  was  organized,  and  given 
the  name  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church  of  Garland. 
The  persons  uniting  with  this  church  at  this  time  were 
Josiah  Bartlett,  Joseph  Strout,  Joseph  Johnson,  Sally 
Bartlett,  Grace  Ladd,  Lucy  Silver,  Sally  Strout  and 
Harriet  Chandler.  A  large  and  flourishing  church  has 
grown  from  this  beginning. 

Joseph  Strout  was  its  first  clerk  and  to  Josiah  Bartlett 
was  committed  its  pastoral  care.  It  promptly  sought 
connection  with  the  Exeter    Quarterly  meeting,   whose 


85S  HISTOSY    OF    GARLAND,    MAINE 

organization  was  probably  only  a  year  earlier.  Such 
connection  was  effected  in  June  of  the  following  year. 
For  some  years  thereafter  it  enjoyed  the  ministration  of 
Elder  John  Page,  who  became  a  resident  of  Garland  and 
a  member  of  the  church  in  1826.  The  Rev.  Leonard 
Hathaway  made  his  first  visit  to  Garland  and  preached 
one  or  more  Sabbaths  to  the  Free  Will  Baptist  people 
in  the  year  1828.  His  fervid  and  earnest  appeals  made 
an  impression  upon  those  who  heard  him  that  was  never 
forgotten.  In  the  first  five  years  of  this  church  about 
forty  persons  were  admitted  to  membership  by  baptism 
and  twenty  by  letter.  In  the  following  five  years  there 
was  a  decrease  in  numbers. 

In  1830,  Samuel  V.  Nason  a  member  of  the  church, 
was  licensed  to  preach  and  was  ordained  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry  in  the  following  June.  A  Sabbath-school 
was  organized  in  1830  and  John  P.  Smith  was  chosen 
superintendent.  In  1834,  the  church  was  afflicted  by 
the  death  of  their  esteemed  minister,  Elder  John  Page. 

Elder  Page  was  bom  in  Wentworth,  N.  H.,  Febru- 
ary 11,  1787.  He  was  for  a  time  a  resident  of  Alton, 
N.  H.  In  1824  he  moved  to  Corinna.  After  a  year's 
residence  at  Corinna  he  moved  to  Exeter  and  thence  to 
Garland  in  1826. 

From  1830  to  1835  there  were  no  additions  to  this 
church.  At  the  end  of  its  first  ten  years  the  church 
numbered  thirty-one  members.  Its  record  indicates 
that  from  the  year  1834  it  had  no  regular  preaching 
until  the  coming  of  Elder  Moses  Ames  in  1839.  In  the 
intervening  time  there  had  been  occasional  preaching  by 
ministers  who  were  laboring  in  the  vicinity.  In  1840, 
ten  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  Measures  were 
entered  upon  for  building  a  meetinghouse  in  1840, 
which  materialized  in  1841. 

It  was  located  about  a  mile  east  of  the  geographical 


HISTORY    OF   GARLAND,    MAINE  S58 

center  of  the  town  and  was  dedicated  in  January,  1842. 
The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Abel 
Turner.  The  first  church  conference  in  the  new  house, 
held  in  February,  1842,  was  an  occasion  of  great 
interest.  Two  persons  presented  themselves  for  baptism 
at  this  conference  and  candidates  for  this  ordinance  pre- 
sented themselves  at  each  conference  thereafter  until 
July,  when  Moses  Twombly  and  John  Batchelder  were 
chosen  deacons. 

This  period  of  prosperity  so  auspiciously  begun  was 
followed  by  a  season  of  severe  trial.  Many  members 
abandoned  the  church  to  enter  the  ranks  of  that  wild 
religious  craze  known  as  Millerism.  Some  of  the  more 
intelligent  of  those  who  had  been  carried  off  their  feet 
by  this  turbid  current  returned  to  the  church  and  its 
ordinances.  From  the  date  of  the  death  of  Elder  John 
Page  the  church  was  destitute  of  a  pastor  until  the  com- 
ing of  Elder  Moses  Ames  in  1839.  During  this  period 
of  destitution  the  church  was  favored  by  occasional 
preaching  by  different  ministers,  among  whom  was  Elder 
Harvey  of  Atkinson,  who  preached  in  1886,  and  bap- 
tized several  persons.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Nason  and  other 
ministers  supplied  the  pulpit  occasionally.  In  1842, 
John  I.  D.  Sanford  was  elected  clerk  of  the  church,  a 
position  which  he  held  for  many  years.  Mr.  Sanford 
had  previously  been  officially  connected  with  the  Free 
Will  Baptist  church  in  Bangor. 

Elder  Josiah  Bartlett,  who  had  exercised  the  general 
pastoral  care  over  the  church  from  the  date  of  its  organ- 
ization, relinquished  such  care  to  Elder  T.  W,  Dore  in 
1842.  During  the  second  decade  in  the  history  of  the 
church  there  were  fifty-nine  additions  by  baptism  and 
twenty-nine  by  letter.  In  1845,  Elder  T.  W.  Dore 
became  pastor  of  the  church.     Josiah  Bartlett  was  its 


^54  HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE 

presiding  elder,  Moses  Twombly  and  John  Batchelder, 
its  deacons,  and  John  I.  D.  Sanford,  its  clerk. 

The  church  had  hardly  recovered  from  the  numerous 
defections  through  the  influence  of  Millerism  before  it 
was  confronted  by  the  deaths  of  several  of  its  oldest  and 
most  esteemed  members.  On  the  25th  of  August, 
1846,  Deacon  Moses  Twombly  dropped  from  the  ranks. 
He  had  been  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  church  and  his 
loss  was  deeply  deplored.  In  less  than  twenty  days 
thereafter  Elder  Bartlett,  who  had  been  the  prime  mover 
in  bringing  his  loved  church  into  existence,  closed  his 
eyes  upon  all  earthly  affairs.  His  death  occurred 
September  12,  1846. 

Elder  Moses  Ames  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
church  April  14,  1846.  On  October  6  of  the  same 
year  Robert  Seward  and  Zebulon  Knight  were  chosen 
deacons.  In  March  the  church  voted  to  support  its 
minister  by  the  taxation  of  its  members,  and  that  his 
compensation  should  be  two  dollars  per  Sabbath,  which 
was  considered  a  liberal  compensation.  A  subsequent 
vote  allowed  him  eighty  cents  per  day  for  pastoral  visits 
but  this  vote  was  afterwards  recalled  by  request  of  Elder 
Ames.  The  ministers  of  the  denomination  were 
expected  to  provide  themselves  with  farms  from  which 
the  support  of  their  families  was  largely  derived. 

In  1849,  twenty-seven  persons  became  members  of  the 
church  by  profession  and  several  others  by  letter.  In 
June  of  1849  the  Rev.  Joseph  Cook  became  a  resident 
of  the  town  and  a  member  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist 
church.  He  soon  came  to  be  esteemed  as  a  warm- 
hearted and  intelligent  member  of  the  Free  Baptist 
church  and  a  well  balanced  citizen  of  the  town.  He 
was  an  earnest  friend  of  the  slave  and  of  the  temperance 
reform.  In  August,  1849,  eight  citizens  of  Bangor 
became  members    of   the  Garland  Free  Baptist  church 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  '355 

and  a  branch  thereof.  Seven  years  later  they  withdrew 
to  unite  with  the  church  of  their  own  locaUty.  Elder 
Moses  Ames  retired  from  the  pastorate  of  the  church  in 
1850  and  was  followed  by  Elder  T.  W.  Dore. 

Elder  Ames  was  a  man  of  sanguine  temperament, 
liberal  views,  and  was  tolerant  towards  other  denomi- 
nations. He  was  in  active  and  earnest  sympathy  with 
the  anti-slavery  and  temperance  movements.  In  1851, 
Elder  Cook  was  employed  to  preach  one  fourth  of  the 
time.  In  1852,  Elder  Leonard  Hathaway  united  with 
the  church  and  became  its  pastor.  He  brought  to  its 
service  a  vigorous  constitution  and  a  religious  fervor  and 
enthusiasm  which  insured  a  large  measure  of  success. 
There  is  a  traclition  that  at  a  meeting  held  ten  months 
subsequent  to  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate,  he  vehe- 
mently exclaimed,  '*Souls  must  be  born  or  I  cannot 
live." 

Inspired  by  this  feeling  he  labored  with  a  zeal  and 
earnestness  that  was  followed  by  a  religious  awakening 
that  resulted  in  the  addition  of  twenty-five  members  to 
the  church  by  baptism  and  others  were  received  by 
letter.  In  March,  1854,  John  Batchelder  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Exeter  Quarterly  meeting.  In  1855, 
the  church  voted  to  employ  Elder  Hathaway  every 
Sabbath.  The  membership  at  the  end  of  the  third 
decade  was  ninety-seven,  a  net  gain  of  thirty-one  in  ten 
years. 

In  1859,  Elder  Hathaway 's  salary  was  raised  to  three 
hundred  dollars.  In  March,  1862,  he  was  allowed  a 
vacation  of  two  months  on  account  of  impaired  health. 
In  1863,  he  closed  his  labors  with  the  church,  having 
had  the  pastorate  care  of  it  for  a  period  of  eleven  years, 
a  period  of  religious  prosperity  during  which  there  had 
been  nearly  one  hundred  accessions.  His  intimate  rela- 
tions with  his  people  were  not  easily  terminated.      They 


856  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

were  earnestly  desirous  of  retaining  him  but  he  believed 
that  duty  called  him  to  another  field,  and  where  duty 
called  he  was  accustomed  to  go,  and  going  he  bore  with 
him  the  warm  sympathies  and  best  wishes  of  his  sorrow- 
ful people. 

Elder  Hathaway  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Appleton 
W.  Reed,  who  had  been  a  minister  of  the  Christian 
denomination.  After  passing  a  satisfactory  examination 
he  was  received  into  the  Free  Baptist  church  of  Garland 
on  the  2d  of  May,  1863,  and  entered  at  once  upon  his 
pastoral  duties.  In  1864,  his  salary  was  fixed  at  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  with  the  understanding  that 
this  sum  would  be  generously  supplemented  yearly  by 
donations. 

The  church,  which  had  numbered  ninety-seven  in 
1855,  had  reached  the  number  of  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  in  1865.  The  death  of  Deacon  Zebulon  Knight 
occurred  in  August,  1865,  at  the  end  of  nineteen  years 
of  service  in  this  capacity.  His  successor  was  George 
W.  Otis.  In  the  year  1866,  both  minister  and  people 
had  come  to  believe  that  the  village  of  Garland  should 
be  made  the  central  point  of  influence  and  effort. 
Elder  Reed,  between  whom  and  Rev.  P.  B.  Thayer,  of 
the  Congregational  church,  the  most  friendly  relations 
existed,  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  the  idea  of 
making  the  village  the  headquarters  of  his  church  and 
people  was  first  suggested  by  his  friend,  the  Rev.  P.  B. 
Thayer.  Then,  as  now,  the  Free  Baptist  people  were 
the  most  numerous  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town,  a 
fact  that  explained  why  their  first  meetinghouse  had 
been  built  two  and  one  half  miles  from  the  village.  But 
now  the  attendance  had  become  largely  increased  and 
demanded  larger  accommodations.  The  decision  was 
reached  to  build  a  meetinghouse  of  larger  size  at  the 
village,  to  take  the  place  of  the  original  house.      Elder 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  357 

Reed  was  appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions  to  the  build- 
ing fund.  Greenbacks  were  then  plenty.  Entering 
upon  his  work  with  confidence  and  zeal,  he  had  at  the 
end  of  three  and  one  half  days  the  happiness  of  pre- 
senting to  his  people  subscriptions  amounting  to  more 
than  five  thousand  dollars. 

The  subscriptions  were  paid  with  creditable  prompt- 
ness. The  work  of  construction  was  promptly  begun 
and  carried  to  an  early  completion.  Only  a  small  debt 
remained  to  disturb  the  equanimity  of  the  contributors 
to  the  building  fund.  The  new  house  was  complete  in 
size,  attractive  in  appearance  and  an  ornament  to  the 
village.  It  was  dedicated  on  December  15,  1866. 
Rev.  A.  W.  Reed  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon. 
Revs.  A.  L.  Gerrish,  P.  B.  Thayer,  G.  S.  Bryant  and 
A.  P.  Tracy  assisted  in  the  services.  It  may  be  said  in 
this  connection  that  years  later  Mr.  B.  P.  Hubbard  of 
Stetson,  formerly  a  member  of  the  Free  Baptist  church 
of  Garland,  generously  furnished  a  bell  for  this  church. 

In  1867,  the  salary  of  Elder  Reed  was  raised  to  four 
hundred  dollars,  to  be  increased  by  the  donations  of  a 
generously  disposed  community.  In  1867,  Josiah  Davis 
was  chosen  deacon  of  the  church.  In  1871,  Elder  Reed 
resigned  his  pastorate  to  accept  a  position  at  the  State 
College  in  Orono.  During  his  stay  in  Garland  his  rela- 
tions to  his  own  people  and  to  the  community  generally 
were  of  the  most  pleasant  character  and  his  resignation 
was  the  occasion  for  general  regret. 

The  Rev.  Leonard  Hathaway  was  again  called  to  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  church  but  his  relations  thereto 
were  continued  only  a  single  year,  which  together  with 
his  former  pastorate,  made  twelve  years  of  pastoral  care 
over  the  Free  Baptist  church  of  Garland.  His  people 
would  gladly  have  retained  him  but  advancing  years  and 
increasing  infirmities  led  him  to  decline  further  service. 


868  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Elder  Hathaway  was  followed  by  W.  C.  Hulse,  who 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry,  and  elected  pastor  of  the 
church  on  March  13,  1872.  Elder  Hulse  was  an 
earnest  laborer  in  the  work  of  the  church  and  Sabbath- 
school.  Soon  after  his  entrance  upon  his  labors  here 
one  hundred  dollars  was  raised  to  enlarge  the  Sabbath- 
school  library.  During  a  pastorate  of  about  twelve 
months  eight  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  In 
March,  1873,  he  resigned  his  pastorate  and  was  followed 
by  the  Rev.  Leonard  Hutchins  of  New  Portland,  Maine, 
who  entered  upon  his  labors  here  in  August,  1873,  and 
was  elected  pastor  in  September,  1873.  Upon  the 
opening  of  his  pastorate  he  found  that  there  was  an 
unpaid  balance  of  about  four  hundred  dollars  due  upon 
the  cost  of  building  the  new  church.  This  was  soon 
liquidated.  Elder  Hutchins'  labors  extended  into  out- 
lying districts  with  gratifying  results. 

The  year  1875  marked  the  semi-centennial  existence 
of  the  Free  Baptist  church.  This  anniversary  was 
made  an  occasion  of  great  interest.  The  address  by  the 
Rev.  Leonard  Hutchins  was  replete  with  interesting 
facts  and  incidents  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
church.  The  interest  of  the  occasion  was  greatly 
increased  by  the  presence  of  the  Rev.  Leonard 
Hathaway,  who  had  been  its  pastor  for  twelve  years, 
and  familiar  with  its  history  for  a  much  longer  period, 
and  whose  narrations,  drawn  from  the  storehouse  of  a 
remarkable  memory,  were  listened  to  with  absorbing 
interest. 

At  the  date  of  this  anniversary  the  church  numbered 
one  hundred  and  two  members.  The  Sabbath-school 
numbered  one  hundred  and  twenty  scholars.  The 
church  had  during  its  history  of  fifty  years  seven 
pastors.  The  whole  number  received  into  the  church  in 
the  first  fifty  years  of  its  history  was  three  hundred  and 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  359 

fifty -nine.  The  number  dismissed  by  letter  was  ninety- 
five.  The  number  dropped  from  its  rolls  as  the  result 
of  discipline  is  not  known  to  the  writer.  Through  its 
whole  past  history  it  has  been  abreast  with  the  best 
sentiment  relating  to  current  moral  reforms. 


Garland  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 

Early  in  the  season  of  1861  ominous  war  clouds  began 
to  darken  the  southern  sky.  The  more  hopeful  flattered 
themselves  with  the  belief  that  all  danger  of  war  with 
the  South  would  soon  disappear,  until  the  thunders  of 
the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumpter  awakened  them  to 
the  fact  that  it  was  already  on,  and  the  call  for  seventy- 
five  thousand  men  indicated  that  they  would  have  a  part 
in  it. 


Early   Demonstrations 

The  patriotic  impulses  of  the  people  soon  material- 
ized. Under  the  lead  of  Isaac  W.  Haskell  a  flag  staffs 
reaching  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  towards  the  blue  of 
heaven  was  put  in  position.  The  women  of  the  town, 
not  a  whit  behind  their  masculine  friends  in  patriotic 
manifestations,  soon  had  a  flag  of  appropriate  dimen- 
sions waving  from  its  top.  A  mass  meeting  was  soon 
assembled  when  the  large  crowd  listened  to  stirring 
speeches  from  Noah,  David  and  Lewis  Barker  of  Exeter, 
a  Mr.  Lowell  of  Foxcroft,  and  the  Revs.  P.  B.  Thayer 
and    Leonard  Hathaway  of    Garland.       The  speech  of 


860  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Lewis  Barker,  which  was  alleged  to  have  been  his  first 
before  a  popular  audience,  was  a  speech  of  remarkable 
power. 


Calls  for  Men  in  1861 

The  war  soon  began  to  present  more  serious  aspects 
to  the  citizens  of  Garland.  The  calls  for  men  to  enter 
the  ranks  of  the  army  were  frequent.  Forty-five  men 
were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  in  1861. 
The  male  population  in  1861  was  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-five.  Every  seventeenth  man  entered  the  service 
in  that  eventful  year. 


Action  of  the  Town  Relating  to    Families  of 

the  Men  Who  Had  Enlisted  in  the  Ranks 

of  the  Army  in  1861 

At  a  town  meeting  held  November  16,  1861,  the 
following  vote  was  passed:  "That  Daniel  M.  Haskell, 
Daniel  Silver  and  James  J.  Chandler  be  appointed  a 
committee  to  whom  the  families  of  persons  who  have 
volunteered  their  services,  or  may  hereafter  volunteer 
their  service  in  defense  of  their  country,  and  who  at  the 
time  of  their  enlistment  are  inhabitants  of  this  town, 
may  apply  for  aid,  and  upon  such  application  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  said  committee  to  visit  the  families  so 
applying  to  ascertain  if  the  aid  asked  for,  or  any  aid  is 
necessary,  and  when  it  is  found  necessary  to  aid  such 
families;  it    shall    be   the    duty    of   said   committee   to 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  361 

report  the  amount  and  kind  of  aid  necessary  to  the 
selectmen,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  promptly  to  provide 
such  aid,  and  in  granting  such  aid  to  such  families  no 
disabilities  of  any  kind  whatever  shall  be  created  by 
reason  of  aid  so  furnished  and  received."  No  provision 
for  the  reimbursement  from  the  State  treasury  of  money 
expended  was  made  until  March,  1862. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  1862,  the  town  voted  to  raise 
eight  hundred  dollars,  and  to  pay  each  of  the  fifteen 
soldiers,  or  the  town's  quota,  fifty-three  dollars  on  being 
mustered  into  United  States  service,  and  authorized  the 
treasurer  to  hire  the  sum  above  named.  On  the  8th  of 
September,  1862,  the  town  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of 
twenty  dollars  to  each  of  our  quota,  sixteen  in  number, 
also  voted  to  present  to  each  of  them,  or  their  friends, 
eighty  dollars  after  being  mustered  into  the  services  of 
the  United  States.  The  town  treasurer  was  authorized 
to  hire  sixteen  hundred  dollars.  On  the  9th  of  March, 
1863,  the  town  voted  to  raise  five  hundred  dollars  for 
the  families  of  volunteers  and  the  selectmen  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  execute  the  purpose  of  the 
vote. 

On  the  26th  day  of  August,  1863,  the  town  voted  to 
pay  one  hundred  dollars  to  every  drafted  man  who 
entered  the  service  of  his  country  himself,  or  furnished 
a  substitute,  payable  when  he  or  his  substitute  was 
mustered  into  service.  On  November  23,  1863,  the 
town  voted  that  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  be  paid 
to  each  person  who  should  enlist  and  be  duly  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1864,  the  town  appropriated 
five  hundred  dollars  to  pay  State  aid  to  the  families  of 
volunteers.  On  August  10th,  1864,  the  town  voted  to 
appropriate  twenty-five  dollars  per  man  of  this  town's 
quota,   to  be  used  in  recruiting  men  for  the  quota  of 


862  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Garland.  On  August  29th,  1864,  the  town  voted  to 
appropriate  one  hundred  dollars  per  man,  to  encourage 
enlistment  to  fill  its  quota  under  the  call  of  the  Presi- 
dent for  five  hundred  thousand  men.  It  was  voted  to 
authorize  the  treasurer  to  raise  a  sum  not  exceeding  two 
thousand  dollars,  to  pay  bounties  to  volunteers. 

Upon  September  12th,  1864,  the  town  voted  upon  a 
proposed  amendment  of  the  State  constitution,  allowing 
the  citizens  of  Maine,  absent  therefrom  in  the  military 
service  of  the  United  States,  to  vote  wherever  they 
might  be  on  a  specified  day,  for  governor,  senators  and 
county  officers.  Upon  this  amendment  the  vote  of 
Garland  was  two  hundred  and  fourteen  in  favor,  none 
against. 

On  October  15th,  1864,  the  town  voted  a  sum  not  to 
exceed  three  thousand,  one  hundred  dollars,  to  pay 
bounties  to  volunteers.  On  the  31st  day  of  December, 
1864,  the  town  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  one  hundred 
dollars  to  volunteers  under  the  call  of  the  President, 
also  to  pay  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  additional  to 
each,  provided  the  coast  guards  were  sent  to  the  front. 
The  treasurer  was  authorized  to  hire  four  thousand 
dollars.  On  February  10th,  1865,  the  town  voted  to 
pay  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  volunteers,  drafted 
men  and  all  enlisted  men  who  furnished  substitutes. 

The  town  of  Garland  furnished  one  hundred  and 
forty-seven  men  to  enter  the  ranks  of  those  who  fought 
for  the  preservation  of  the  government  which  the 
patriots  of  the  Revolution  had  risked  their  lives  and  all 
their  earthly  possessions  to  establish.  Of  those  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  men,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  were  residents  of  Garland,  and  nineteen  were  sub- 
stitutes of  residents  of  Garland  from  other  places. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


368 


Names  of  Residents  of   Garland  Who  Volun- 
teered to  Fight  Under  the  Old   Flag 


Adams,  Isaiah 
Allen,  William  W. 
Allen,  Ebenezer  S. 
Atkins,  Geo.  E. 
Bragdon,  Eugene 
Berry,  Stephen  G. 
BeiTy,  Stephen  A. 
Brown,  Henry  J. 
Bell,  John  H. 
Bosworth,  Daniel  A. 
Berry,  Arthur  A. 
Berry,  Thomas  L. 
Bumham,  B.  W. 
Batchelder,  Alonzo  F. 
Brown,  William 
Bell,  Hiram  F. 
Bartlett,  John  W. 
Batchelder,  Edgar  S. 
Batchelder,  Alonzo 
Currier,  Judson  W. 
Clark,  Joseph  A. 
Clark,  James  H. 
Came,  Stephen  R. 
Cole,  Jedediah 
Carr,  William  H. 
Chamberlain,  Henry  A. 
Coan,  Elisha  S. 
Coan,  Frederick  C. 
Campbell,  John 
Champion,  Sumner  P. 
Champion,  Richard  K. 
Dearborn,  Francis  M. 


Fall,  Isaac  R. 
Gerry,  John  M. 
Grover,  Luke  M. 
Goodwin,  Samuel  W. 
Gee,  James  M. 
Grover,  Cyrus  S. 
Hatch,  Geo.  W. 
Handy,  Wesley  H. 
Hubbard,  Benjamin  T. 
Haskell,  Frederick  A. 
Hatch,  Benjamin  C. 
Haskell,  Isaac  W. 
Haskell,  Bennett  A. 
Haskell,  Jason  F. 
Haskell,  Charles 
Hill,  Edwin 
Harlow,  Hosea 
HaU,  Elijah 
Holt,  Adelbert 
Hathaway,  Asa 
Hoyt,  Eben  (Navy) 
Ireland,  George 
Johnson,  Jonathan  G. 
Jones,  Geo.  W. 
Jax;kman,  Justus  H. 
Knox,  Sumner 
Knight,  John  S.,aedited  to tbe^ 

Lyford,  Fifield 
Leighton,  Warren  C. 
Lovejoy,  Levi 
Ladd,  William  R. 
Littlefield,  Isaac  Y. 


S64 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Davis,  John  A. 
Dore,  Seth 
Ellis,  Alden  B. 
Flanders,  Robert  G. 
Fox,  Samuel 
French,  Robert  T. 
Fogg,  Peleg 
Fogg,  Alonzo  M. 
Farmer,  Randall 
Flanders,  James  H. 
French,  Henry  M. 
Flanders,  Henry  E. 
Osgood,  Edward 
Pennington,  Christopher 
Palmer,  Erastus  L. 
Preble,  Melvin 
Page,  James  W. 
Quimby,  Jacob,  Jr. 
Ramsdell,  Henry 
Ramsdell,  Seth 
Ramsdell,  Job 
Ramsdell,  Austin 
Ramsdell,  Franklin 
Reed,  Nicholas  G. 
Rideout,  Luther  M. 
Sawtelle,  Delbert  H. 
Smith,  Josiah 
Smith,  John  T. 
Smith,  George 
Straw,  Alfred  B. 
Straw,  Giles 
Skillin,  William  E. 


Miller,  Henry  B. 
Mansfield,  William 
Morton,  Mark  P. 
Morton,  Anderson  P. 
Merriam,  Leander  O. 
Murphy,  Joseph  J. 
Mansfield,  Hollis 
Merriam,  Chas.  E. 
McComb,  John  H. 
Osgood,  Calvin  R. 
Osgood,  Wesley 
Osgood,  Marquis  D.  L. 
Skillin,  Francis  M. 
Skillin,  Joseph  W. 
Skillin,  Samuel  L. 
Skillin,  Thomas  J. 
Skillin,  Chas.  E. 
Skillin,  David 
Skillin,  Hugh  S. 
Skilhn,  William  H. 
Swett,  Henry  A. 
Stillings,  Roger 
Stillings,  Raymond 
Titcomb,  Charles  C. 
Titcomb,  Leonard  H. 
Titcomb,  Frank  W. 
Twombly,  John  D. 
Tiplady,  James  A. 
Thomas,  Frederick  P. 
True,  Joseph  L. 
True,  Benjamin 
Wellington,  George 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


365 


A  List  of  Drafted  Men  Who  Furnished  Sub- 
stitutes 


Principals 
Frank  Garland 
John  K.  Gee 
John  T.  Amazine 

A.  J.  Flanders,  2d 
Frank  Emerson 
Chas.  H.  Davis 
Joel  W.  Otis 
Samuel  Y.  Merrill 
Samuel  Foss 
Henry  Merrill 
Fred  Fields 
Alonzo  F.  Parkman 
Jonathan  F.  Crowell 

B.  P.  Hubbard 
John  W.  Seward 
Delbert  M.  Sawtelle 
Noah  W.  Johnson 
Leonard  C.  Hathaway 
Samuel  O.  Davis 


Substitutes 
James  M.  Blake 
Hiram  F.  Bell 
Oliver  W.  Cutis 
Martin  W.  Dugan 
Roscoe  Doble 
George  W.  Fisher 
Dennis  Griffin 
Josiah  Lyons 
David  R.  Lane 
lid  win  Marden 
Alonzo  Morton 
Alphonzo  L.  Ober 
Lewis  M.  Porter 
Benjamin  F.  Russell 
Isaac  W.  Sandbom 
George  W.  Frost 
Mark  P.  Morton 
George  W.  Hatch 
George  A.  Drake 


A    List  of   Non-resident  Volunteers    Assigned 
to  Garland 


Frank  Drew,  navy 
Chas.  A.  Deliver,  navy 
John  DriscoU,  navy 
Nathan  G.  Dyer 
Nathaniel  A.  Kinney 


William  G.  Lee 
George  F.  Haley 
Samuel  D.  Rankin 
Thomas  L.  Pillsbury 
Stillman  B.  Judkins 


S66 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


George  S.  Daniels 
James  H.  Roundy 


John  Campbell 
Thomas  A.  Morton 
Edson  Holmes 


Reenlistments 


Henry  B.  Miller 
William  Mansfield 
William  H.  Carr 
Joseph  W.  Skillin 
William  E.  Skillin 
Francis  M.  Skillin 
George  Smith 
Samuel  W.  Goodwin 
Austin  Ramsdell 
Jedediah  Cole 
Robert  Y.  French 
Frederick  A.  Haskell 


John 


Benjamin  C.  Hatch 
Nicholas  G.  Reed 
Wesley  Osgood 
Josiah  Smith 
Isaiah  Smith 
Samuel  Fox 
George  Ireland 
Jason  F.  Haskell 
Bennett  A.  Haskell 
Daniel  A.  Bosworth 
Alonzo  F.  Batchelder 
Benjamin  True 
A.  Davis 


GO                        S 

X   $0            ^4^ 

.-H    X              X    _ 

-'^         '-h'^ 

J— I 

i  ^^        X    «5 

X 

r-i 

i 

;5  ;5  X  5  5 

©^ 

-B 

X 

l-H 

cS 

J  J  ^^  §  ^^ 

«g 

f5 

^13  'TS     .    ^  tT 

•  rH 

S    fe'S    Q    S 

Q  X" 

o 

ibarged 
barged 
barged 
isferred 
ed  one 
days 
barged 
I  Nov. 

?? 

J  .2  «  2  ^ 

Q  Q  5  H  c^ 

QQ 

©<    o 

X   = 

l-H 
^•2 


U5 

CO 

X 


X 


rH     j!i   ,_-,    ®?   ^   GO 


»o 


•2 1 


^ 
tf 


®?  (N -*?<  "*?« '«f«      ;o  CO  ;o  ;o      ^  i>  r^  t- I- ph  ®? 


®< 


a^-^ffiWM     ffiKMW      -^^KffiffiMklf^P^ 


S       2 

Jh    fc-    C  T3 

«  oe  o  a 


0^ 

eft  S     OJ   ^    eg 

t  ffl  '^  5  O 

<"    .    .2  !>  ^J 

^    C    5    O  _Q 

:s^  2  So 

*<  K  ^  O  2< 


;h:3  tf  ^ 


c  ^ 


S 

o 


•If  J 


CT! 


^.^•2 


fC  -5    =^ 


pq 
d 


eS 


sis    O^ 
t-3  1-5  ^  1-3  j/2 


X  X  Ci  Oi  Oi 
®<  ©? 


»0  iO  lO  iO 


n^    ©?   ©^    ©?   ©?  r^  r-^ 


as   w 


*  ^   o   o   o 


3  3  3  3 

•-3   ^  ^  »-3 


>;^  fcX3  fcJD  &C  &C  >    >    >• 


CO 
X 


;o 


CO 


2S 


08 


g  CO 
rj  CO 


^ 


CO  ^  Ph 
j:^  o  ®^ 

©^  w  CO 
.    ;-  X 

a>     -      - 


■5.S 


Oi 


(D 


g     §     ^ 

•i-l     iJT    -rH 


rt     OJ     p   /^  ^   ^ 


o 
c 

B 

U 

CO  ^ 

CO  CO 

^    <X)   r^ 

be 
o 


©^ 

CO 

.^   ^^ 

O  CO  ©? 
Si    -^ 

^  CO 

M  1-5  ^ 


CO  CO 
CO  CO 
X  X 


^  -s  ti 


^^n 


CO  CO 

o  o 
a    a; 

03      03 


CO 

X 


Oi 


CO  CO    ^ 

X  X  <i1§ 
'"'  "^  4^  X 

CO  CO  a 
>^^Sx'^ 


^     C3 


W5 

CO  ^ 

iO  CO  "^o 

CO  X  '-' 

X    l-H        ^ 

r-i      ^X 

oiO  '-I 

X    ^     . 

OJ 

M  ^  fr^ 


a>    a> 


^    cu    a> 
-^    -fJ   -M 

O      «2      !» 

P§S 


2  ®^  <NS^©^xCiO»0»OiOiOiOiOiO>OiO>OW5iO»OiO 

'— >r-trHi-HrH>— IrHrHf-lr-lrHr-lrHrHJ— IrHi— irHrHi— (I— f 


^^^^f^wwKffiaffiwffiffiffiWffiWfflfflw 


I 


S 

o 


.    O 


PxhH  W 


a; 


c3 

-I 


T3 


O 

o 


u  ^  ^  ;5 


-tJ  'dj  "^ 


g  a  "  «  o  p^  ^ 

en  "^  g  -§  pi  ::i  .g  d  §  ^ 
^  .  £;^^?  o  §  ^  •  .  ^ 

^g^aJO^oj'S'g&^gS'^'fl^Sg 
<t1c«rt^^O^P9KSH^^ccpLH«^te 


03  .i 


.  ^  H 

.22  >  § 

o3  CO  C 

tH  o  "I' 

Ph  ^  PQ 


w;z;;z;:zi;z;;z;pQqQpQQpQppppppQ 


^  ^  ^  ^ 
.  ^  9?  ;o  X  © 
to      X  ?0  X  '^  "^ 

-id  r-^  X  ;=;  ^  s 

-M  -!tj  ^  4J    C 

§5  s  §  § 

I    ml 
^  '^  jj  jj     T 

^    2    s    3  _i 


»o  »o  »o   >^ 


<S  KKWS 


s 

5 


K  Pm  0)   «   c 


*i  t'  ir-  r- 

c  _^  ,^  _^ 


lit!  (ill 


00 


.s  ^ 


o 


X 

.S   0) 

"^   J   .2    O 

o;  'ts  ^  ©? 

^  ce  ^  o 

-^^^^^^ 

^^^.^ 
S  S  5  p^ 


^ 

Oi 

(^ 

GO 

6 

CO 

^  GO 

"^ 

X 

X  ^ 

1—i 

,-H    X 

53 
O 

-(-5 

CO 

X 
r- 1 

GO 
X 

nH    X 

X 

^O 

X 

r— 1 

-^ 

-s 

^^ 

> 

be 

bJO 

p 

^ 

bJD  b/D 

o 

c3 

C3 

^cS 

z 

11 

-s 

11 

-g 

00 


-§ 


a 

o 
U 

0) 

> 


GO 

§^ 
^^ 
©?     O 

■   o 

fci   , 


©^  r^ 

X    pD 


J 


P     . 
.t^  X 

-So 


-g 


GO 

X 


o 

GO 


OJ 

O  CO  . 

O  X  o 

^    2  r3^ 


X 


03 


a;    p 


IS- 


■^<i^-o 

'^    o3    o3 

5    o    o 

g     CO     en 

HP*P 


-5     ^cococooooooooooo 
■^tf  ©?®?®^©?®^©^®?s^©?©? 

o 


u 


o  o  o  o 
©?  ©{  ©^  ©? 


2  ®  ® 
©?©?©? 


<<ffiffipppppppppp    pppp    ppp 


Cm 

PQ 

i 


'IS 


fe- 


2  ^    ^o  _3^  :^ 


lllill 

P^  H?  <r^  -"^  ^  • 


^1 


^^^h^^WOh^ 


0) 

TO      t-i 


°P<^PQ 


^-M   lOCOCOO^OO^O^iCiOiO^iCiCiCi 

« a  .  

rt2if*ir*-)f    &i)fc5DbJDbbfcJ[)bCbJDfci)bC&C 


a; 


^  ^  ^  CO  '^      r^ 


cS    ^ 

o 

-^   5? 

Hj 

>< 

^a 

o 

^  c« 

t?l 

^ 

Hen 

Elis 
Geo 

rv 

•^ 

O^  Oi  C5  Ci 

©^  ©i 

©? 

©? 

fcJD  bb 

bb 

b£ 

J3     p 

p 

p 

<<<< 

G 

pB 
o  be 

:S.2.s 

.   a; 

P  a  ^ 

g  »  « 

;-<  02  S 

f-i  T*  a 

<^  fa  S 

^  ^  P 


O^  Oi  Oi 
©?©?©? 


be  fciC  bD 
S  3  5 
<!  <Ji  ^ 


J3 


<§ 


6 

u 

o 


5g  <N  CO 
X  ;0  X 
>-•  «  f-i 

«^   «   l-H 

S    -M    -M   QO 

=   ^   ^   S 

^  O  C  X 


G^  eft  GO  Q?5  GO 
ZO  ZD  ZO  ^  ^ 
X  X  X  X  X  ^ 
I— I   ,— I  rH  rH   I— I  ^ 

X 


GO  CO  GO  GO  CO  GO  QO 

ZO  ZD  '^  ^  ^  '^  ''^ 
X  X  X  X  X  X  X 


•-^3^- 


;=;;::  ;i:  '^  ij«  -.^  >,j< 

2  ^  '^  fH   ,-1   rH   rH 

c8    ctf    d      • 
X  ^^    en    tlC 

^  ^  ^  ^ 

O  .C  .0  ^ 


> 
o 
iz; 

S 


-2 


t-  J-.  tH  ^ 

"  .2  J    3 


tsc  ti  ti 

S  S  P 

-M  -»J  4J 

S  P  s 

o  o  o 

^  (h  bM 

V  Oj  0) 


'*  "*  "^  ^ 


i5  *Q  Q  Q  Q  S 


3    3    3 


3  3 

O  C 

X  X 

3  3 


O  ^ 


be  fcC  b£  &C  tifi 

3  3  3  3    3 

<11  <11  <t-  ^  <15 

^^  ^J  4J  ^J    4^ 

3  3  3  3    3 

O  O  O  O    O 

33  £  3j  3j  ^ 

;h  ui  ui  (x    fH 


§2 

be  bCx    ''^ 

3    3 

3 


<I^<1      . 


_      X      X      X      X 

3    3    3    3    3 


^1 


-s 


o  o 


®?  ®<  Q^  Q<  ®? 


X 

3    3    _ 


©<   Q<   r-l 
«   ®^   f-< 


a   QQQ^QQKffiffifflKKKKajWKKKKKW 


i 


be  be  bc 


333'aj33oc;owooooooo««oo3 

<j<ii<5^^^ooooooooooooooo^ 


jf    bpbC^j4J^j^J^J4j^4J^J+ijJ^J 

^T        ^       ^        •^       »^        l•^        !••>        l»1        l»1        l»1        PI        ("I        (••>       fl       ?■> 


CO 


o 

,£3 


CD 

■S  .-^ 

^  be 

O  P^ 


o 


PQ 
a; 

s 


> 

O 


13 


0) 


CO  O 


"^1 
.si 


CO  S 


o 

p 

O  X 


^^^ 


fe  o 

O         Qi 

.0}        • 


d  CD 


CO 
X 


CO  •«?( 


»o 


CO  CO 
X  X 


;^  5^  ^  «^ 


.t;       to   o 


c3    O 


w 


ffi 


§  o 

•-5  ^ 


I 


el 


PQ 


!/i 


a;  CO 

O   rH 


OO       p       Q 


4J 

o 

.s  ^ 


-* 

•s  ^ 


X 


lO 


CO  CO 

OP 


^    r-H 

ST  a; 

5  S  Q  Q  p  p 


^ 


G 


CO 


y     0^     3 

53^ 


3>  Ci 


PhPQ 


W  £ 


'^ 

01 

h 
o 

t: 

Is 

o 

0^ 

^ 

-03 
2 

G 

1 

1 

< 

n 

PQ  WO 

o 

1 

M« 

I3 

^ 

g 

fl 

G 

(A 

PQ 

^P 

s 

^ 

CO 

O 

1 

G 
0) 

1 

O   (U 
cS   en 


^co 


+3 

p. 


c« 


IC  W5 


xj  P      O 


4-J 

o 


o   ii   o   6   6   6   <u   6   6   ^'  ^ 

ppppppppp;^^ 


X 


^^-s 


X 


^ 


CO 
00 


.s 

0) 


J 


QO  QO 


>>  >> 


3  rH 


3  ^^  ^ 

-^  t^  W  en 

PS  fc- 

JJ     ^J    r-J 

*-M   -^^  r^ 

c/2  c«  I-.  O 


2  J 

»-3  CTi 


c« 


fafi 

CO 


X 


3  C«  CC 

o 


JO 

X 


g  ^ 


©< 


»Cl 


1   »-' 

fcJD 

h 

S  ^1  fl 

tn    O 
X         Q 

!i  ^  ^ 


bsi-2 


^2q 


•-3 


•-3  :73 


O     CO 

CO    ^ 


CO 

i 


<u 


"^   *H 


•  i-<      f5      X 


CO  "^ 


CO 

X 


X 


<u 


»0  lO  o  o  o 

»-<    I— I    ®<    Q<    Q< 


IC 


a; 

I 


Oi  Oi  Oi  1— (  rH   rH   f-H 

GO  GO  GO  GO 


bo 


_  -^    O  CO 

s  ^  ^  s 


GO 


o 


o 

i 
1 


S 


<M-S  ic  ^  ^  o 

OS  rH 


Jii.Ji    ^  ^  ^  ^ 

0*2    o   w    w    o 

oooo 


PEI 


OXoTt't^GOGOiOl'^ 


a  3 


+j  ^J  ^J  oj    d  -♦-' 


lO  X  ^  JO 


S^ 


13 


xxxx  xxxxxxxxxxx 


W5 
00 


.3 


X  X  i-H  1:- 
®?  ®<  QO  rH 

PhcSS;z; 

be  fciD  tiD  be 
b    b    fe    !3 

O     y     O     t> 
CO      OJ      cc     CC 


■Tj  "^  13  n3  tj  "^3  "^  "^  nd 


S    P 


PPPQgSS^SSSSggg 


el 
o 


^  •; 


WS  lO  iO  W5  "S'gv 
rH  rH  i-l  rH   g  g^ 


a  « 


;:jP[]»{J3HFiqpi;HPiqpiq(£]H 


03 


5C 


2 

0) 


>H^    J 


H 


o 


O  >,cc 


e 


1 


H 


o  ^ 


t>  '^  4J     . 


&<'^ 


C/2 

fc>D 

O 


O   0) 


XXQOx  l^-l:-l:^J^-J:^i>ir-^-J:^St^J:' 

©<    (N    rH    O^ 


H 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  375 

A  Brief  Statement  of  Particulars  of  the 

Deaths  of  the  Men  Who  Were  Killed 

or   Died  in  the  Service  of  Their 

Country 

Isaiah  Adams,  age  twenty-one,  single,  a  private  in 
Company  F,  12th  Maine  Volunteers,  was  mustered  into 
service  November  15,  1861.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service  he  reenlisted  and  was  mustered  into 
service  January  1,  1864.  He  was  wounded  at  Cedar 
Creek  October  19  and  died  the  next  day. 

Eugene  Bragdon,  eighteen  years  of  age,  single, 
private  in  Company  E,  11th  Maine  Volunteers,  was 
mustered  into  service  August  9,  1862.  Was  wounded 
August  16,  1864,  and  died  August  27,  1864.  On  the 
day  he  received  the  wound  that  proved  fatal  his  regi- 
ment repulsed  three  desperate  charges  of  the  enemy. 
His  corps  lost  five  commissioned  officers,  two  field 
officers,  three  company  commanders  and  one  hundred 
and  forty-four  privates,  only  four  of  whom  were  taken 
prisoners. 

Henry  J.  Brown,  a  young  man  of  eighteen,  private 
in  Company  H,  15th  Maine  Volunteers,  was  mustered 
into  service  December  17,  1861,  as  private.  Was  dis- 
charged April  9,  1862,  on  account  of  sickness.  He 
reenlisted  May  18,  1863,  into  Company  F,  1st 
Veteran  Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  the  Wilderness 
May  5,  1864. 

Henry  A.  Chamberlain,  eighteen  years  of  age,  single, 
private  in  Company  D,  20th  Maine  Volunteers,  was 
mustered  into  service  August  29,  1862,  and  was  killed 
at  Fredericksburg  December  13,  1862. 

Jacob  Quimby,  Jr.,  age  thirty-two,  of  Company  H, 
6th  Maine  Volunteers,  private,  was  mustered  into  service 
September  16,   1862,  and  was  killed  at  Rappahannock 


876  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Station  November  7,  1862.  He  joined  his  company 
after  the  first  of  November  and  was  killed  in  less  than 
six  days  after  his  arrival  at  the  front. 

John  W.  Bartlett,  age  twenty-one,  single,  a  private 
in  Company  A,  Sharpshooters,  was  mustered  into 
service  October  27,  1864.  Was  mortally  wounded  at 
Gravelly  Run  March  31,  and  died  April  1,  1865. 

Lyman  E.  Richardson,  age  twenty-seven,  2d  lieu- 
tenant. Company  E,  of  2d  Maine  Volunteers,  was 
mustered  into  service  May  28,  1861.  Was  wounded  at 
Bull  Run  July  21,  1861,  and  died  at  Manassas  August 
4,  1861.  Mr.  Richardson  had  been  a  successful  teacher 
of  schools  in  Garland  and  other  places.  About  the 
time  of  his  enlistment  he  married  Miss  Mary  E. 
Burnham,  an  intelligent  lady  of  Garland.  Through  the 
persistent  and  earnest  efforts  of  the  father  of  his  wife, 
Eleazer  Burnham,  his  body  was  recovered  and  brought 
to  Garland  for  interment. 

Ebenezer  S.  Allen,  private  in  Company  D,  20th 
Maine  Volunteers,  age  thirty-eight,  single,  was  mustered 
into  service  August  29,  1862.  Wagoner.  Died  Jan- 
uary 18,  1863. 

Chester  Ballard,  private  in  Company  H,  15th  Maine 
Volunteers,  married,  was  mustered  into  service  February 
22,  1864.  Died  August  10,  1864,  and  is  buried  in 
National  Cemetery,  Arlington,  D.  C. 

Arthur  A.  Berry,  age  twenty-six,  married,  private  in 
Company  D,  20th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  into 
service  August  29,  1862.  Reported  sick  near  Porters- 
town,  Va.,  November  15,  1862.  Died  November  19, 
1862,  in  Philadelphia. 

Stephen  G.  Berry,  single,  private  in  Company  F,  12th 
Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  into  service  November  15, 
1861.  Died  January  25,  1863,  at  Baton  Rouge, 
Louisiana. 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  S77 

Isaac  R.  Fall,  single,  private  in  Company  H,  15th 
Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  into  service  December  17, 
1861.      Died  on  Ship  Island,  Mississippi,  June  26,  1862. 

James  M.  Gee,  single,  twenty-six  years  of  age,  private 
in  Company  I,  2d  Maine  Cavalry,  mustered  into  service 
December  22,  1863.  Died  August  24,  1864,  at 
Barancas,  Florida.  He  rests  in  grave  No.  59,  National 
Cemetery. 

Wesley  H.  Handy,  single,  age  twenty-two,  private  in 
Company  F,  12th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  into 
service  November  15,  1861.  Died  of  disease  at  sea 
August  21,  1864. 

Hosea  Harlow,  age  forty-four,  married,  private  in 
Company  I,  2d  Maine  Cavalry,  mustered  in  December 
22,  1863,  and  died  at  Barancas,  Florida,  Oct.  5,  1864. 
Buried  in  National  Cemetery,  grave  No.  76. 

Bennett  A.  Haskell,  age  eighteen,  single,  a  private  in 
Company  H,  22d  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in  Octo- 
ber, 1862.  Mustered  out  August  14,  1863,  the  expi- 
ration of  his  term  of  service.  Reenlisted  in  the  2d 
Maine  Cavalry.  Mustered  in  December  22,  1863. 
Died  February  10,  1865,  at  Barancas,  Florida.  Buried 
in  National  Cemetery,  grave  No.  79. 

Charles  HaskeU,  age  forty-four,  maiTied,  a  farrier, 
mustered  into  Company  I,  2d  Maine  Cavalry,  December 
22,  1863.  Died  September  18,  1864,  at  Barancas, 
Florida.      Is  buried  in  National  Cemetery,  grave  No.  78. 

Oliver  P.  Hodsdon,  age  thirty-six,  married,  private  in 
Company  F,  First  Regiment  Heavy  Artillery,  mustered 
in  November  17,  1863.  On  November  1,  1864,  he  was 
reported  missing  since  October  27,  on  which  day  the 
regiment  was  at  Boyd  ton  Plank  Road  where  they  cap- 
tured two  hundred  prisoners,  two  pieces  of  artillery  and 
two  stands  of  colors.  Three  commissioned  officers  were 
wounded,    and    twenty-nine  men    were  killed,    wounded 


378  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

and  missing.  Private  Hodsdon  died  in  hospital  March 
1,  1865,  and  was  buried  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  grave 
No.  711. 

Fifield  Lyford,  age  twenty,  single,  a  private  in  Com- 
pany 11,  6th  Maine  Volunteers,  was  mustered  in  July 
15,  1861,  and  died  November  8,  1861. 

James  J.  Murphy,  age  eighteen,  single,  a  private  in 
Company  F,  31st  Maine  Volunteers,  was  mustered  in 
March  15,  1864.  He  died  of  disease  August  15,  1864, 
and  was  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Annapolis, 
Maryland,  in  grave  No.   1063. 

Henry  Ramsdell,  age  twenty-one,  single,  a  private  in 
Company  H,  15th  Maine  Volunteers,  was  mustered  in 
December  17,  1861.  He  died  August  19,  1863,  at 
Camp  Parapet,  defence  of  New  Orleans. 

Giles  Straw,  married,  age  forty-three,  orderly  sergeant 
in  Company  H,  15th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in 
December  17,  1861.  Reduced  to  the  ranks  on  account 
of  sickness  and  consequent  inability  to  perform  the 
duties  of  his  office  for  the  time  being.  Sergeant  Straw 
was  a  faithful  and  competent  officer  and  should  either 
have  been  discharged,  or  been  retained  in  the  position 
that  he  had  previously  held.  Instead  of  this  he  was 
reduced  to  the  ranks,  an  act  to  which  his  sensitive 
nature  revolted,  and  which  is  believed  to  have  hastened 
his  death,  which  occurred  November  11,  1862.  He 
rests  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Pensacola,  Florida, 
grave  No.  75. 

Randall  Farmer,  age  nineteen,  single,  private  in 
Company  H,  22d  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in  October 
10,  1862.     Died  March  23,  1863. 

Thomas  J.  SkiUin,  single,  age  twenty,  private  in 
Company  D,  20th  Maine  Volunteers,  was  mustered  in 
August  29,  1862.  He  died  near  Porterstown,  Mary- 
land, November  7,  1862. 


HISTORY    OF    GAELAND,     MAINE  379 

John  D.  Twombly,  age  twenty-two,  married,  private 
in  Company  D,  20th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in 
August  29,  1862.  Died  near  Antietam  Ford,  Novem- 
ber, 1862. 

Leonard  H.  Titcomb,  age  twenty-one,  single,  private 
in  Company  F,  12th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in 
November  15,  1861.  Taken  prisoner  at  Cedar  Creek, 
October  19,  1864.      Died  in  prison  at  Salisbury. 

John  H.  McComb,  single,  age  eighteen,  private  in 
Company  G,  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry.  Taken 
prisoner  June  20,  1864,  and  died  in  Andersonville  prison. 

Alexander  McComb  died  while  in  service  in  a  New 
York  regiment. 

Cyrus  S.  Grover,  age  twenty,  single,  private  in  Com- 
pany K,  15th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in  October 
10,  1864.      Died  of  disease  October  16,  1865. 

Elijah  Hall,  age  twenty,  single,  private  in  Company 
K,  15th  Maine  Volunteers.  Mustered  in  October  10, 
1864,  and  died  near  Harper's  Ferry  before  reaching  the 
regiment. 

Calvin  R.  Osgood,  age  twenty-seven,  single,  private 
in  Company  H,  6th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in  July 
15,  1861.  Was  discharged  for  sickness  September  25, 
1862,  and  died  soon  after.  He  was  brought  home  for 
burial. 

Francis  M.  Dearborn,  age  eighteen,  single,  private  in 
Company  K,  4th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in  Novem- 
ber 9,  1861.  Was  discharged  February  4,  1862,  and 
died  soon  after. 

Alfred  R.  Straw,  age  twenty -eight,  single,  sergeant  in 
Company  F,  22d  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in 
November  15,  1861.  Was  promoted  to  the  first  lieu- 
tenancy of  same  company  and  regiment.  Was  dis- 
charged for  disability  and  death  soon  followed. 

George  E.  Atkins,  age  twenty-one,  single,  private  in 


380  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

Company  D,  20th  Maine  Volunteers,  mustered  in  August 
29,  1862.     Died  February  1,  1863. 

Granville  W.  Fogg  was  second  master's  mate  on  ship 
Mercidita.  He  died  on  the  passage  from  New  Orleans 
to  Port  Royal  and  was  buried  at  the  latter  place.  He 
was  afterwards  brought  to  Garland  and  laid  to  rest  in 
the  family  burying  ground  on  May  15,  1865. 

These  men  died  for  their  country,  and  "there  is  no 
nobler  death  than  to  die  for  one's  country." 

The  particulars  relating  to  the  military  services  of 
the  men  who  represented  Garland  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  which  have  been  briefly  given,  were  gleaned 
from  many  sources  by  Benjamin  True,  Esq.,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  of  Garland.  This  work  has 
involved  much  time  and  labor  and  Mr.  Time  is  entitled 
to  great  credit  for  having  collected  and  put  them  on 
record.  Many  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  is  today 
searching  ancestral  records  with  eager  eye,  if  perchance 
he  may  find  that  his  ancestral  line  extending  through 
the  years,  will  reach  some  soldier  of  the  Revolution 
which  will  make  him  eligible  to  membership  in  an  asso- 
ciation of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  History  will 
repeat  itself.  In  coming  years  citizens  of  the  Republic 
will  be  searching  records  to  find  whether  they  may  enjoy 
the  distinction  of  descent  from  the  valiant  men  who 
fought  to  save  the  best  government  in  the  world  from 
annihilation. 


mSTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  381 

The  number  of  men  furnished  to  fill  the  different 
quotas  of  Garland  including  enlistments,  reenlistments 
and  substitutes: 

Men  who  entered  the  service  by  voluntary  enlist- 
ment, 129 
Men  who  were  represented  by  substitutes,  19 
Men  who  reenlisted,                                                             25 


Whole  number  furnished  by  Garland,  173 

The  male  population  at  that  time  was  seven  hundred 
and  eighty-five,  thus  it  appears  that  considerable  more 
than  one  fifth  of  its  male  population  was  found  in  its 
quotas  at  different  times. 


Cost  of  the  War  to  the  Town  of  Garland 

The  first  act  of  the  town,  after  having  filled  its  first 
quota,  was  to  provide  for  the  families  of  the  men  who 
had  entered  the  military  service.  A  committee  was 
appointed  which  was  charged  with  the  duty  of  visiting 
these  families  as  often  as  necessary  to  ascertain  the  needs 
of  each  and  report  to  the  selectmen,  who  were  instructed 
to  extend  the  necessary  aid.  The  amount  paid  under 
these  instructions  during  the  war  was  five  thousand  and 
seventy-nine  dollars  and  ninety  cents. 


Bounties 

In  1862  the  town  paid  three  years  men,  $      795.00 

In  1862  the  town  paid  nine  months  men,  1,900.00 

In  1863  the  town  paid  to  volunteers,  3,400.00 


38^  HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

In  1864-5  the  town  paid  to  volunteers,  $10,125.00 

In  1864-5  the  town  paid  to  drafted  men,  200.00 

In  1864-5  the  town  paid  to  substitutes,  1,600.00 

Aid  to  families,  5,079.90 

Women's  aid  to  hospitals,  975.00 


Total,  $24,984.90 


Woman  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 

Any  history  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  that  fails 
to  recognize  the  patriotic  devotion  of  the  women  of  the 
northern  states  is  incomplete.  From  its  opening  to  its 
close  their  busy  brains  and  never  tiring  hands  were  devis- 
ing and  executing  plans  for  the  encouragement  of  the 
men  in  active  service  at  the  front,  or  languishing  in 
hospitals,  and  while  they  could  not  know  that  any 
article  of  the  interminable  list  designed  for  the  comfort 
of  the  brave  men  would  ever  reach  father,  brother,  son 
or  friend  of  theirs  it  was  enough  for  them  to  know  that 
it  would  reach  and  cheer  soldiers  fighting  at  the  front  or 
disabled  in  hospitals.  But  their  supreme  gifts  were 
fathers,  brothers,  husbands  and  sons  who  might  never 
return  to  bless  their  homes  with  the  cheer  of  their 
presence. 

The  women  of  Garland  entered  promptly  upon  the 
work  of  preparing  and  sending  to  the  front  such 
supplies  as  were  needed  by  sick  and  disabled  men  in 
hospitals.  At  an  early  date  a  strawberry  festival  was 
held  by  the  ladies  of  the  town,  the  avails  of  which  were 
to  be  expended  for  hospital  use  at  the  front. 

The  people  entered  upon  the  work  of  preparation  with 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

enthusiasm.  The  hall  in  which  they  assembled  was 
decorated  with  flowers  and  the  tables  were  loaded  with 
food  of  a  variety  to  tempt  every  type  of  appetite.  The 
money  realized  from  the  festival  was  one  hundred 
dollars,  which  was  invested  in  flannels  that  were  made 
into  garments  ready  for  use.  They  also  knit  many 
dozen  pairs  of  stockings  and  made  comfort  bags,  filling 
them  with  a  great  variety  of  articles  needed  in  hospitals, 
never  forgetting  to  send  a  word  of  cheer  for  the  sick 
soldier. 

The  usefulness  of  one  specialty  of  a  very  simple 
character  was  often  complimented.  An  elderly  lady, 
Mrs.  Josiah  Merriam,  suggested  the  making  of  noiseless 
fans  for  use  in  hospitals.  These  fans  were  made  of 
feathers  thus  freeing  the  patient  from  the  annoyance  of 
the  rustling  incident  to  the  use  of  other  fans.  The 
work  so  auspiciously  begun  at  the  opening  of  the  war 
was  carried  on  with  unflagging  enthusiasm  to  its  close. 

The  hospital  supplies  contributed  by  the  women  of 
Garland  were  appraised  at  cash  value  and  were  dis- 
tributed as  follows : 

To  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission,  $200 

To  the  Christian  Commission,  50 

To  the  soldiers  in  Maine  camp,  75 

To  the  general  hospitals  in  loyal  states,  100 

To  the  regimental  hospitals  and  incidentals,  250 

To  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Boston  hospi- 
tals, 300 


Total,  S975 

President  Lincoln  is  reported  to  have  said  in  a  speech 
on  a  pubhc  occasion,  *'I  am  not  accustomed  to  use  the 
language  of  eulogy.  I  have  never  studied  the  art  of 
paying  compliments  to  women,  but  I  must  say  that  if 


884  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

all  that  has  been  said  by  orators  and  poets  since  the 
creation  of  the  world  in  praise  of  women  was  applied  to 
the  women  of  America,  it  would  not  do  them  justice  for 
their  conduct  during  this  war.  I  will  close  by  saying, 
God  Bless  the  Women  of  America!" 


An   Incident  Connected  With   Filling  One  of 

the   Quotas  Assigned  to  the   Town  of 

Garland 

The  required  number  of  men  to  fill  the  quota  was 
ready  to  enlist  if  the  bounty  offered  by  the  government 
to  each  man  could  be  increased  by  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars.  Of  wealthy  men,  the  town  had  none. 
But  twenty  of  its  citizens  promptly  pledged  one  hun- 
dred dollars  each,  and  six  others  fifty  dollars  each  to 
avoid  a  draft,  an  aggregate  of  two  thousand,  three 
hundred  dollars,  but  a  subsequent  act  of  the  government 
relieved  those  patriotic  citizens  of  the  burden  they 
had  voluntarily  offered  to  assume.  The  subscribers  to 
this  fund  were: 


Lyndon  Oak, 

$100 

Geo.  R.  Coffin, 

$100 

A.  M.  Haskell, 

100 

Noah  Swett, 

100 

True  W.  Dore, 

100 

Joseph  True, 

100 

H.  W.  Johnson, 

100 

Geo.  A.  Brann, 

100 

Edson  L.  Oak, 

100 

Israel  A.  Palmer, 

100 

D.  M.  HaskeU, 

100 

Elijah  Crane, 

100 

Joseph  Garland, 

100 

Wm.  S.  Haskell, 

100 

T.  P.  Irish, 

100 

Wm.  Oliver, 

50 

Luther  Rideout, 

100 

Joseph  M.  Gerry, 

50 

S.  S.  Clark, 

100 

Artemas  Merriam, 

50 

E.  Skinner, 

100 

P.  B.  Thayer, 

50 

Daniel  Silver, 

100 

J.  I.  D.  Sanford, 

50 

Samuel  Skillin, 

100 

Eben  S.  French, 

50 

A  Tribute 

My  acquaintance  with  Hon.  Lyndon  Oak,  of  Gar- 
land, Maine,  was  of  a  quarter  of  a  century's  duration, 
and  my  friendship  for  him,  strengthened  by  a  constantly 
increased  admiration  of  his  noble  traits  of  character, 
covers  the  same  period. 

It  gives  me,  therefore,  very  great  satisfaction  to  put 
on  record  my  estimate  of  the  man,  especially  in  the  rela- 
tions in  which  I  have  principally  known  him.  Others 
can  more  easily  write  of  him  as  a  citizen,  as  a  man  of 
affairs,  as  a  friend  and  companion  in  the  domestic  circle 
and  in  his  own  immediate  neighborhood,  and  as  a 
wise  adviser  in  the  counsels  of  the  town,  the  county, 
and  the  State. 

My  own  association  with  him  was  in  connection  with 
the  Maine  State  College  of  which  he  was  a  trustee  for 
more  than  twenty  years,  and  of  whose  governing  board 
he  w£is  for  several  years  president. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  college,  the  occasions  for 
meetings  of  the  board  of  trustees  were  frequent,  and 
even  under  ordinary  conditions,  three  meetings  a  year 
were  usually  the  minimum  number.  It  is  not  in  my 
remembrance  that  Mr.  Oak  ever  missed  attendance  upon 
a  meeting  while  connected  with  the  board.  This  state- 
ment, at  first,  may  seem  of  slight  consequence,  but 
when  we  reflect  that  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees, besides  involving  much  anxious  thought  and  careful 
deliberation,  meant  for  him,  usually,  a  carriage  drive  of 


386  HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 

not  less  than  forty  miles,  with  loss  of  time  for  two  or 
three  days  from  his  own  private  business,  and  all  this 
without  compensation,  we  are  prepared  to  recognize  an 
admirable  but  truly  characteristic  trait  of  the  man, 
namely,  unflinching  fidelity  to  duty. 

This  fidelity,  together  with  a  gentle  forbearance  and  a 
patient  persistence,  which  was  also  characteristic,  served 
the  college  in  many  an  exigency  in  which  more  flashy 
qualities  would  have  failed. 

His  services  were  especially  valuable  in  connection 
with  legislative  matters.  The  soundness  of  his  judg- 
ment was  above  question,  and  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him  wherever  known  rendered  his  recommendations  of 
great  weight  before  legislative  committees — a  fact 
always  duly  apparent  and  appreciated  in  the  final  votes. 
It  was,  however,  as  a  kind,  thoughtful  and  sagacious 
counsellor  in  the  general  affairs  of  the  college  that  his 
services  were  the  most  valuable.  I  am  sure  I  do  no 
injustice  to  his  worthy  associates  in  the  board,  in  saying 
that  in  all  critical  periods  of  the  college  history,  his 
services  were  simply  invaluable. 

As  acting  president  of  the  college  during  the  first 
three  years  of  its  existence,  and  subsequently  as  presi- 
dent during  the  last  ten  years  of  Mr.  Oak's  member- 
ship of  the  board  of  control,  I  received  from  him  many 
letters  pertaining  to  matters  of  vital  importance  to  the 
institution,  not  a  few  of  which  were  necessarily  of  a 
confidential  nature.  A  few  months  ago  I  had  occasion 
to  re-read  a  large  proportion  of  these  letters,  which,  to 
that  time  had  been  preserved.  I  can  say  in  regard  to 
them  just  what  all  who  knew  him  would  expect,  that 
there  was  not  a  line  in  them  all  which  was  not  alike 
creditable  to  his  head  and  to  his  heart.  Even  if  the 
topic  were  of  a  nature  to  discourage  or  to  exasperate, 
there  was  no  evidence  of    discouragement  or  of  undue 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE  387 

mental  excitement,  but  always  of  a  clear  and  cool  judg- 
ment and  of  a  hopefiil  and  confident  spirit.  In  them 
all,  the  motive  was  definite  and  clear  to  consult  the  true 
interests  of  the  institution  and  of  the  State,  and  to 
secure  only  the  result  which  was  just  and  right. 

His  retirement  from  the  board  I  have  regarded  a  mis- 
fortune to  the  college.  It  came  about  after  three 
appointments  for  the  period  of  seven  years  each,  in 
virtue  of  what  seems  to  me  an  unwise  statute  limitation 
of  age,  which  makes  ineligible  for  appointment  as  trustee 
of  the  State  college  a  man  who  has  passed  his  seventieth 
birthday.  The  loss  to  the  college  by  his  retirement, 
was  the  gain  to  another  State  institution  to  whose 
governing  board  he  was  immediately  appointed  by  the 
Governor  of  the  State.  Ripe  in  experience,  with 
faculties  unimpaired,  he  rendered  the  State  under  this 
new  appointment  a  large  measure  of  useful  service. 

From  a  somewhat  close  association  with  him,  for  more 
than  two  decades,  in  mutual  efforts  in  behalf  of  the 
Maine  State  College,  I  am  certain  that  no  one  can  over- 
estimate the  sterling  qualities  which  he  possessed  and 
which  endeared  him  to  a  constantly  widened  circle  of 
devoted  friends,  and  made  his  name  a  synonym  for 
honesty,  truthfulness  and  loyalty  to  the  right.  The 
remembrance  of  this  association  is  to  me  a  fragrant 
memory,  inasmuch  as  it  serves  to  enlarge  my  conception 
of  the  dignity  of  human  nature,  and  to  lead  to  the  con- 
viction that  there  are  men  whom  we  can  easily  conceive 
to  have  been  made  in  the  image  of  God. 

Merritt  C.   Fernald. 


INDEX 


Abbot,  town.  236. 

Sylvester,  297, 

Act  of  Incorporation.  114.  116,  207. 
Adams,  The.  ship  of  war,  154.  168. 

Alphonzo.  232,  233,  236,  246. 

George  W..  120. 

Isaiah,  375. 

John,  216. 

John  Quincy,  222. 
iSsculapius.  85. 
Allen,  David.  28.  190,  196,  220. 

Ebenezer  S.,  376. 

Elisha  H..  272.  278. 

Hon.  Elisha  H..  of  Banffor,  287. 
Amazeen,  Henry.  239. 
America,  116.  117,  245. 
Ames,  Daniel,  204. 

Elder  Moses.  862. 

Mosee,  290. 
Amestown  (Sanj^erville),  86. 
Anderson,  Hugh  J.,  278,  284.  285. 
Andrews.  Rev.  A.  P..  200. 
Annals  of  Bangor,   170,  214,  217,  22 
231. 

Appleton,  James,  276,  278.  284. 
Aroostook.  County  of,  9. 
Arnold.  George.  82. 180. 
Athens,  Maine.  61,  88,  90,  186. 
Atkins,  Bradbury  G.,  28,  35,  62. 

George  E.,  379. 
Atkinson.  16. 
Atlantic  Ocean,  66. 
Augusta.  Maine,  105. 
Avenue  Road,  242.  273,  276,  886. 
Avery,  Isaiah,  292. 

Jeremiah,  202. 

Mr..  200. 


B 


Bacon,  place,  31. 
Badger.  Philip  E..  190. 
Bailey,    Moody,   256;  'draft  of  Aroos- 
took War,  264.  ._;  _     V 
Ballard.  Chester,  376. 
Ephraim..7,  9,  10,  15. 


Bansror.  market  for  products  of  flax 
plant.  92,  144;  county  road  from 
Bangor,  101.  237;  post  office,  123; 
attack  on  Bangor,  158;  half  shire 
town,  167;  shire  town,  168;  military 
gathering,  182;  route  of  mail  car- 
riers. 185;  election  in  1823,  207;  im- 
portant road  from  Bangor,  242; 
artillery  company.  263. 

Steamer.  236. 

House,  263. 

Jefferson.  241. 

Theological  Seminary.  343. 
Baptist  church.  344. 
Barker.  David,  359. 

Enoch  M.,  M.  D.,  229.  231. 

Lewis.  359. 

Noah.  805.  359. 
Barstow.  D..  245. 
Bartlett.  place,  130. 

Mr..  185. 

John,  collector  in  1847.  288. 

John  W.,  376. 

Joseph.  241.  265;  draft  of  Aroostook 
War,  264;  superintending  school 
committee  in  1841,  273;  candidate 
for  register  of  probate  in  1860,  312. 

Joaiah  (known  as  Elder),  19;  father 
of  Obed  of  Boston.  Mass.,  26;  barn 
burned,  73;  petitioner  for  incorpo- 
ration. 119;  highway  surveyor  in 
1811.  127;  school  agent  in  1811,  134; 
selectman  and  assessor  in  1812, 
135;  in  1816,  166;  in  1819.  186;  in 
1820,  193;  moderator  in  1813,  151;  in 
1814.  153;  in  1817.  177;  member  of 
Free  Will  Baptist  church,  238;  can- 
didate for  representative  to  Leg- 
islature in  1841,  274;  received  ordi- 
nance of  baptism,  351. 

Mrs.  Josiah,  97. 

Nehemiah  1st,  270. 

Nehemiah.  town  clerk  in  1838,  254, 
260;  selectman  and  assessor  in 
1842,  275;  treasurer  in  1843.  277; 
State  senator  in  1849,  296;  in  1850. 
298;  moderator  in  1848,  291. 

Obed.  26. 

R..  227. 

Hon.  Reuben,  109;  post  master.  185; 
on  committee  to  select  land  for 
cemetery,  195;  family,  196;  town 
clerk  in  1821,  197;  in  1822,  201; 
in  1824.  209;  in  1825,  211;  in  1826, 
215;  in  1828.  221;  selectman  and  as- 
sessor in  1823.  206;  in  1827,  219;  in 
1829,  223;  in  1830,  226;  in  1831,  229; 


390 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


in  1833.  232;  in  1834.  233;  grist  mill 
property.  230,  271;  treasurer  in 
1835,  236;  member  of  Universalist 
church,  239;  death,  241. 

Sally,  Mrs.,  35]. 

Zenas,  draft  of  Aroostook  war,  264. 

Barton,  A.  L.,  88. 

Artemas.  42,  83. 

Asa,  261;  superintending:  school  com- 
mittee in  1838.  254;  in  1839,  260;  in 
1840,  271;  in  1841,  273;  selectman 
and  assessor  in  1843,  277. 

Batchelder  Hill,  Dexter,  41. 
Horace,  draft  of  Aroostook  war,  264. 
John,  draft  of  Aroostook  War,  264; 

selectman   and   assessor   in  1855, 

304;  chosen  deacon.  353. 
John  H..  225,  239. 
Opening,  43. 
Phineas.  225. 

Bates.  James,  227. 

John,  227. 
Battles.  Eben,  225,  240. 
Beauchamp,  John,  13. 
Beecher,  Rev.  Dr.  Lyman,  father  of 
Henry  Ward  and  Harriet  Beecher 
Stowe,  325. 
Belfast.  Maine,  116,  117.  118. 
Belerrade,  Maine,  96.  97. 
Bennett,  Captain,  34. 
Berkshire,  county  of.  9. 
Berry,  Arthur  A.,  376. 

Calvin  P.,  superintending  school 
committee  in  1864.  316. 

Family.  174. 

Ira.  174. 
Berry,  Stephen  A.,  173,  174. 

Stephen  G.,  376. 
Berwick,  Maine,  52,  80. 
Besse,  Haskell,  225. 

Mr.,  72. 

Place,  72. 
Bessey,  Seth,  42. 
Blaine.  Hon.  James  G.,  113. 
Blaisdell.  Dr.  John,  53. 

William,  119,  128,  133.  137.  151.  156. 
200. 

Blaisdelltown  (Exeter),  39,  53,  80. 
Blake,  Gen.,  154,  155;  brigade,  161. 

Samuel  H..  304.  312. 
Blood,  Mighill.  339. 
Boarstone  mountain.  16. 
Bond,  Abner,  99. 

Abraham,  120. 

Abram,  137. 
Boscawen,  N.  H.,  28.  208. 
Boston.  96,  118;  route  between  Bangor 
and  Boston,  235. 

England.  13. 

Boutelle,  Hon.  Charles  A.,  113. 
Bowerbank,  Maine.  117. 
Boynton.  Gorham  L..  815. 

Bradbury,  B.,  316. 
Bion.  815. 
Lewis,  94,  95. 


Bradbury.  Mr..  94. 

Mrs.,  94. 
Bradford,  15. 
Bradley,  Levi,  272. 

Zebulon,  260. 
Bragdon,  Eugene.  375. 
Brann,  George  A.,  181. 
Brawn,  Peter,  39. 
Brock  way,  Mr.,  86. 
Brewer,  107,  110.  245. 
Bridge,  Samuel,    draft  of  Aroostook 

War,  264. 
Bridgham,  Joseph,  232. 
British,  155, 157.  159. 
Bronson,  David,  287,  290. 
Brooks.  Gov..  183,  189. 

Hon.  John,  167,  179,  181.  187. 
Brown.  Charles  H.,  28,  35,  52,  140,  200. 

Eben  E.,  320. 

Henry  J.,  375. 
Bruce,  Walter,  quotation.  144. 
Bryant,  young  man  of  that  name,  293. 

Rev.  G.  S..  357. 
Buck,  Alfred  E..  113. 
Bucksport,  Maine,  30. 
Burleigh,  Dr.  Gilman,  185. 
Bumham,  Asa.  100. 

Rev.  Asa,  350. 

Cemetery,  223. 

Eleazer,  selectman  and  assessor  in 
1853,  301. 

Mark,  256;  draft  of  Aroostook  war, 
264. 

Noah.  256. 
Burton,  David,  239. 

Mrs.,  196,  199. 

House,  203. 

Buswell,  Moses.  187.  188.  194.  199.  219. 
240. 

Samuel  P..  240. 

William,  225. 
Butman,  Samuel,  219,  222. 
Butters.  Charles,  284. 

Simeon.  292,  298. 
Buzzell,  Moses.  166. 


Calef  farm,  172. 
California,  94,  95,  259. 
Calvinist  Baptists,  240. 
Came,  Stephen  R.,  350. 
Campbell,  Calvin,  25,  131. 

Colin,  184,  185. 

Hon.  James,  139. 

John,  153. 

Mr.,  60. 

Place,  60. 
Canaan.  185. 
Canada,  169. 
Canadian  line,  242. 
Carmel.  185. 


INDEX 


391 


Carpenter,  Rev.  E.  G.,  349. 
Carr,  Charles,  82,  130. 

Hon.  James,  118, 139. 

J..  245. 
Caruthers,  Rev,  James,  345. 
Case.  Isaac,  197. 

Casey,  Henry,  candidate  for  register 

of  probate.  312, 
Castine,  157.  167. 
Cayford.  Mr..  339. 

Center  schoolhouse,  166.  166,  168,  177. 

178. 
Chamberlain,  Henry  A.,  375. 

Joshua  L.,  319.  320,  321.  322. 
Chandler.  Anson  G.,  301. 
Chandler's  barn,  103.  104. 

Charles  P..  96,  208,  243. 

E.  Ausrustus,  318. 

Family  (John),  66.  69.  74.  79. 

James  J..  64.  88.  193.  233.  239.  242. 
261:  collector  in  1836.  246;  in  1848. 
291;  in  1849.  296;  in  1860.  297:  in 
1852.  300:  in  1867.  308;  in  1858.  309; 
in  1860,  311;  in  1861,  813;  selectman 
and  assessor  in  1862.  314.  360. 

John,  64.  69.  72;  built  a  bam.  102; 
petitioner  for  incorporation.  120; 
highway  surveyor  in  1811. 127;  tith- 
infiT  man,  163;  collector  in  1819,  187; 
on  committee  to  select  land  for 
cemetery.  195;  member  of  Univer- 
salist  church.  240. 

Mrs.  John.  69,  70,  71. 

Opening,  102. 
Chapman,  Winthrop,  201,  212,  216,  222, 
224,  227,  229;  candidate  for  repre- 
sentative to  legislature  in  1859. 311. 
Charleston,  5.  212. 
Chase.  Daniel.  249. 

John  M..  28.  35.  52.  62.  137. 

Joseph,  313. 

Miriam.  62. 

Mrs..  73. 

Peter.  29.  67.  78. 

Polly.  62. 

Chelsea.  Massachusetts.  118. 
Christian  Commission.  383. 
Church,  Mr..  108.  109,  196.  241. 

Waiiam,  137,  163,  191. 
Church's  Mills.  138,  179. 
Clark,  George  S..  town  clerk,  816:  in 
1865.  317;  in  1866.  318;  in  1867,  319; 
in  1868.  320;  in  1869,  822. 

Plynn.  190. 

Samuel  S.,  288. 
Clay,  Henry.  231. 
Cleveland.  President,  113. 
Clinton,  Me.,  108. 
Clough,  Enoch.  77,  82, 120, 137,  239. 
Cobum,  Abner,  315. 

Stephen,  313. 
Coffin.  George  R..  202. 
Colley.  Israel.  225,  239. 
Committee  for  sale  of  eastern  lands,  6; 
for  selecting  and  purchasing  site 
for  town  house.  289. 


Commonwealth  of  Maine,  194;  of  Mass- 
achusetts. 121,  124,  136,  138,  189. 
193,  195,  198.  226. 
Congregational  church,  95,  106,  130, 
202,  210,  239,  243,  277,  346;  of  Gar- 
land, 107;  clerks  of,  350;  deacons  of, 
360;  meeting  house,  41,  271;  Meet- 
ing House  Company  of  Garland, 
243,  245,  346;  parish,  243,  245. 
Congress,   139.  189.   206.  218,  227,  232. 

234. 
Constitution  of  Maine,  197. 
Cony,  Samuel,  316,  317,  318. 
Cook.  Rev.  Joseph.  354. 
Coolidge.   Cornelius.   74,  195.   197,  207, 
210,  212,  224. 
Place,  74. 
Copeland.  Isaac.  106.  137, 153.  166. 
Corinna,  16,  42. 
Corinth.   Maine.    5,  55;    county  road, 

178;  mail  route  through.  186. 
Comville,  Maine.  37.  92.  185. 
Council  Chamber.  122. 
County  Commissioner,  candidate  for, 

in  1863.  302. 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  220. 
Cox,  Abraham  J..  208,  215. 
Cram  and  Dutton.  245. 
Cram  farm.  172. 
Crane.  Elijah.  323. 
Crosby.  S.  S..  245. 
William  G..  297.  801.  302. 
Hon.  William.  139. 
Crowell.  David.  190. 

Lewis.  152. 
Crowningshield.  Hon,  Benjamin,  181. 

187. 
Currier,  Caleb,  58,  69. 
Curtis,  George,  225,  227.  239.  296. 
Jeremiah.  287.  290.  292. 
Loren,  203. 
Gushing.  Jefferson,  234. 
Cushman.  G.  G..  262. 
Cutler,  John,  276. 


D 

Dana.  John  W.,  287.  290,  292,  314. 
Danville,  Maine,  28,  36,  52. 
Davee,  Thomas,   Democrat  candidate 
for  representative  to  Congress  in 
1838,  255. 
Davis.  99. 
A..  245. 

Horace,  place.  130. 
John.  225. 
Josiah.  357. 
Robert  P..  draft  of  Aroostook  war. 

264. 
Samuel  O..  28.  31,  57. 
Dearborn,  David,  29,  31,  83,  84,  87,  110, 
190. 
Hon.  Henry,  179. 
Place.  74. 


392 


HISTOEY    OF    GARLAND,    MAINE 


Dearborn,  Francis  M.,  379. 
Thomas,  selectman  and  assessor  in 

1864,  816;  in  1865,  817. 
Mrs.  Thomas,  298. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  216. 

Deerfield,  New  Hampshire,  196,  208. 

Dexter,   5;    saw   mill,   35,    140;    first 
prayer  meeting,  98;  Masonic  lodge, 
205;   county  road,  233;    important 
road  leading  through  Dexter,  242. 
Hon.  Samuel,  167. 
William,  153. 

Dingley,  Hon.  Nelson,  113. 

Dinsmore,  James,  227,  240. 

Dixmont,  14, 15, 106.  219. 
Hills.  16. 

Doble,  William.  225. 

Dockham.  Stephen  B.,  256;  draft  of 
Aroostook  War.  264. 

Dore,  Elder  T.  W..  358. 

Dover.  15,  53,  90,  94,  214.  233. 

Dover  line,  233. 

Downing,  Lamont,  294. 

Drake.  Rev.  S.  S.,  superintending 
school  committee  in  1839.  260;  in 
1844.  283;  became  acting  pastor  of 
parish  in  1887.  349. 
Rev.  Samuel  S.,  pastor  of  Congre- 
gational church,  271;  on  superin- 
tending school  committee  in  1841. 
273;  in  1842,  275;  in  1843,  277. 

"Drive,"  A,  148. 

Dunham,  Mr.,  208. 

Dunlap,  Robert  P.,  232.  283.  234;  Dem- 
ocrat candidate  for  governor.  247. 

Dustin.  William.  82,  97. 120,  137.  190. 


E 

Eastman.  Harmon,  818. 
Eastport.  161. 
Eddy.  Mr.,  184. 185. 

William.  219. 
Ela,  Mr.,  174. 
Elkins  place.  38.  89. 

John.  53. 

Mr.,  38. 

Samuel,  87,  58. 
Elkinstown,  now  Dexter.  35.  58.  68,  74, 

81.  91.  102. 106. 190. 
Embargo  Act.  191. 

Emerson.  Micah  C,  83;  draft  of  Aroos- 
took War.  264. 

M.  C.  256. 

Nathaniel.  88.  289. 

Place.  180,  200. 

WiUiam.  177.  205.  206.  222. 
Emery.  Daniel.  222. 
England.  13, 116, 118.  154, 
English  literature,  79. 
Epping,  New  Hampshire,  78. 
Etna.  185. 
Europe,  169. 


Evans.  Benjamin,  276. 
David,  superintending  school  com- 
mittee in  1863,  315;  in  1864,  316;  in 
1865.  817;  in  1868,  320. 

Exeter,  5,  100;  meeting  on  return 
march  of  Garland  company  with 
citizens  of  Exeter,  160;  route  of 
mail  carrier,  185;  important  road 
through  Exeter.  242;  Exeter  line, 
61,  131,  153;  Exeter  Mills,  186;  Exe- 
ter Corner,  186. 


Fairfield,  John,  Democrat   candidate 
for  Governor  in  1838,  255;  in  1839. 
260;  in  1841,  274;  in  1842,  276;  Gov- 
ernor of  Maine,  262. 
William,  M,  D.,  221,  225. 
Fall,  Isaac,  245;  lieutenant,  256. 

Isaac  R.,  377. 
Farewell,  Elder  Joseph,  351. 
Farmer,  Randall,  378. 
Farnham,  William,  34. 
Fernald,  Merritt  C,  387. 
Fessenden,  Samuel,  286,  287,  290,  292. 
Field,  Ansel,  202,  209.  211,  215.  225,  239; 

united  with  church,  341. 
Fifield,  Daniel  E.,  draft  of  Aroostook 
war,  264. 
E.,  134. 

Edward,  58,  62;  first  beginning  in 
southwest  part  of  the  township, 
74;  builds  a  barn,  103;  petitioner 
for  incorporation,  119;  constable  in 
1811,  127;  moderator  in  1811,  129; 
school  agent  in  1811,  134;  saw  and 
grist  mill,  152;  superintending 
school  committee  in  1818, 180;  mem- 
ber of  Universalist  church,  240. 
Family,  74. 

John,  Democrat  candidate  for  Gov- 
ernor in  1840.  272. 
John  M.,  197. 
Martha,  96. 

Mrs.  Polly,  wife  of  Edward.  105. 
Nathaniel.  119. 137. 
Thomas,  256. 

Thomas  B.,  draft  of  Aroostook  War, 
264. 
Fifth  Range.  118,  119.  121. 
Finson,  Thomas,  29,  57. 
Fish,  Ira,  234. 
Fisher,  Jonathan,  339. 

Paul  M..  211. 
Fisk,  J.  B.,  245. 
Flanders  apple.  34. 

Flanders.  Cutteon,  brother  of  Jere- 
miah, 106,  120.  128.  137.  163.  239. 
Flanders.  Enos.  33. 
Jeremiah,  58,  64;  married,  101;  peti- 
tioner for  incorporation,  119;  mem- 
ber of  Masonic  lodge,  205;  select- 
man and  assessor  in  1828,  221;  in 
1830,  226;  collector  in  1829,  223; 
member  of   Universalist   church. 


INDEX 


393 


Flanders,  Mr..  34. 

Mrs.  Jeremiah,  101 

Zenas,  227.  239. 
Fogg,  David.  199,  203.  239. 

Dr.  Seth,  203.  211.  225. 

Dudley  L..  119,  120. 

Family,  203. 

Granville  W..  380. 

John  S.,  239. 
Foss  Farm.  224. 

Mr.,  185. 

William  B..  57,  96,  126,  199.  228. 
Foster,  S.  J.,  245. 
Fourth  Range,  119,  121. 
Foxcroft.  Maine,  94.  96. 152.  243. 
Frankfort.  59. 

Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  206. 
Free  Baptist  church,  96,  126.  277,  344; 

meeting:  house.  57. 
Freeholders.  124,  126. 
Free  Will  Baptist  denomination.  100. 

226.238. 
French.  Dr..  186. 

Eben.  161. 

Eugrene.  house.  109, 

Mrs.  Seba.  93. 

Seba  (Judge  French),  91,  93, 103.  104. 
195.  238. 

Simon.  77.  137.  161. 

William.  270. 
Friend.  Hollis.  186. 
Frye.  Simon.  8. 

WiUiam  P..  118. 
Fuller.  Hon.  Melville  W.,  118. 


Gardner.  John.  320. 
Garland.  5;  number  three  in  fifth 
range.  15.  24;  early  settlement.  35; 
third  town  to  organize  Congresra- 
tional  church,  107;  name  of  pros- 
pective town,  115:  first  town  clerk, 
122;  voters,  137;  Garland's  grateful 
remembrance  to  business  men  of 
Bangor,  176;  loss  by  Ohio  fever, 
182;  construction  and  repairing  of 
roads,  187;  town  voted  to  appro- 
priate ministerial  lands  to  use  of 
primary  schools,  231:  artillery  com- 
pany. 263. 

Benjamin.  57.  270. 

Family  (Joseph).  52.  66.  82.  91. 

High  school.  293. 

Jacob.  120,  135,  137.  151,  168. 

James,  29,  82. 

Joseph,  19,  26;  first  family,  30;  fruit 
nursery,  33;  first  winter.  49.  59.  69; 
heme.  85;  school  in  his  bam.  87.  91, 
109;  naming  of  town,  115;  petition- 
er for  incorporation,  119;  school 
agent  in  1811,  134;  superintending 
school  committee  in  1813,  151,  200. 

Kilby,  50. 

Minerva.  50. 

Mrs.  Joseph.  31.  32,  50,  61,  62.  91. 

Orenda.  50, 

Timothy.  50. 


Zeruiah,  62. 
Garvin.  Jeremiah,  292. 
Gee,  James  M.,  377. 

Phineas,  emigrated  from  England, 
254. 

Solomon,  emigrated  from  England, 
254. 
General  Ckjurt  of  Massachusetts,  114, 

118,  120, 121. 
Gerrish.  Rev.  A.  L.,  867. 
Gerry.  E..  122,  123. 

Hon.  Elbridge,  138. 

Joseph  M.,  place.  120;  selectman  and 

assessor  in  1866,  818;  in  1867.  319. 
Giddings,  Joshua  R.,  286. 
Gilmantown,  New  Hampshire.  88. 
Gilpatrick,  Benjamin,  52, 119.  128,  162. 
166.  177,  180. 

Benjamin.  Jr..  137.  153. 

Thomas.  29. 119, 127, 133, 134,  137,  166. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  119,  137,  177. 
Glenbum,  18,  178.  186.  242. 
Godfrey.  Judge.  231. 

Judge  John  E..  170,  214,  217,  220,  277. 
Godwin.  Hiram    F..  draft   of    Aroos- 
took War,  264. 

James,  137. 

William.  62,  57,  77,  79,  96.  120,  127. 
137,  172,  184,  188.  138,  205,  211,  216, 
219,  228,  237,  239.  244. 
Goodenow.  Daniel,  229,  231.  232. 
Gordon.  Amos.  57.  61,  66.  81.  105,  120. 
124.  136,162.  162,  188,  196,  211.  240, 
270. 

Amos  G..  240. 

Albert  G..  20,  57,  82,  106, 172. 

Betsey.  64. 

Family.  66.  68.  74.  79. 

George  W.,  240. 

H.  Lester.  162. 

Horace,  20.  99.  152. 

Horace  H..  67. 

James  P.,  57. 

John  E.,  120,  137. 

Miriam,  64. 

Moses,  20,  34,  49.  58,  64,  66.  81.  119. 
128.  137.  157.  162,  166,  171.  223,  239, 
242.246. 

Moses  G..  superintending  school 
committee  in  1846.  285;  in  1846.  287; 
in  1860.  297. 

Mrs.  Moses,  67,  68. 

Nancy,  64,  79,  87.  96. 

Parker.  20.  106. 

Polly.  64. 
Goulding.  Lewis,  216,  226.  239.  243. 

Louis.  347. 
Gove,  David  A.,  16.  25,  62,  77,  219. 
Governor.  138,  153. 
Grant.  Agnes,  95. 

Family,  77,  108. 

John,  52,  59,  61,  80,  81.  137.  139.  190. 

Grant,  Landeras,  60.  61,  75,  137. 

Gray,  William,  153. 

Great  Britain,  138. 
Greeley  cemetery,  110,  228. 

Charles,  131.  172. 

David  M.,  225, 

Jacob,  200,  233,  239. 

James.  29;  collector  in  1839.  260. 


394 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Greeley,  Philip,  82,  97,  128,  137.  166, 
177,  180, 183, 186,  193, 197,  201,  209, 
228  237. 
Samuel.  29,  200,  225,  239. 
Greene.  Lawrence.  185. 186. 
Greenleaf,  Ebenezer,  162, 163.  166. 
Greley,  Philip.  119. 
Griffin,  Andrew,  84, 102, 190. 
Grinnell,  Albert,  77,  317. 
Grout,  Elias,  11. 
Grover,  Cyrus  S.,  379. 
Gubernatorial  election,  278. 
Guilford,  34, 195,  214,  286,  242. 


H 

Hale,  Rev.  Enselius,  349. 

Hon.  Eugene,  113. 
Hall,  Elijah,  379. 
Hallowell,  Abner  R.,  305. 
Hamans,  Benj.,  122. 
Hamilton,  John,  225,  239. 
John  E.,  83. 
Samuel  A.,  264. 
Hamlin,  Elijah,  292. 
Elijah  L.,  296. 

Hannibal,  Democrat  candidate   for 
representative  to  Congn'ess  in  1840, 
272;  in  1843,  278;  in  1844,  284;  op- 
ponent   of    slavery,    298;    United 
States  Senator  in  1856,  306. 
Hampden,  14.  15. 154.  158,  159, 182, 183, 
185. 
CJorner,  185. 
Upper  Corner,  185. 
Hancock,  County  of,  7,  9,  10,  118.  121, 

124, 163, 167. 
Handy,  Wesley  H.,  377. 
Hanson,  A.,  31. 
Harlow,  Hoeea,  377. 
Harmony.  19.  65, 185,  214. 
Harriman  cabin  (place),  71,  120. 
family  (Justus),  66. 
Justus.  29.  52.  62,  69,  70,  81,  119,  128, 

137.  239. 
Justus  H.,  183. 
Manoah.  62. 137. 
Miriam,  62. 
Harrison.  William  H.,  247,  273. 
Hartland,  185. 
Harvey,  David,  248. 

Sir  John,  268. 
Harwood,  Rev.  T.  W..  350. 
Hasey.  Mr..  60. 

Haskell.  A.  M..  lieutenant.  256;  select- 
man and  assessor  in  1855,  304;  in 
1863,  315;  in  1864,  316;  in  1865.  317; 
in  1866.  318;  in  1867.  319;  in  1868. 
820;  in  1869.  322. 
Andrew  M.,  draft  of  Aroostook  war, 
264,  290;  selectman  and  assessor  in 
1849,  295;  in  1851,  800;  in  1853,  301; 
moderator  in  1850,  297. 
Bennett  A.,  377. 


Haskell,  Bildad  A.,  236.  239,  242. 

Charles,  264.  377. 

Daniel  M..  99, 105,  226,  229,  231.236,239, 
243;  selectman  in  1836.  246.  261.  360; 
member  of  superintending  school 
committee  in  1837.  248;  in  1838.  254; 
in  1848.  291;  in  1851,  300;  in  1842. 
264,  276;  selectman  and  assessor  in 
1840,  271;  in  1841,  273;  in  1843,  277; 
in  1844,  283;  in  1845,  285;  in  1846, 
287;  in  1847,  288;  in  1849,  295;  in 
1850.  297.  286.  candidate  for  rep- 
resentative to  legislature.  315. 

Deacon.  339. 

Deacon  John  S..  20,  26,  83,  37,  45,  49, 
341. 

Gideon,  40,  46,  46,  49. 

Isaac,  clerk  in  1856,  305. 

Isaac  W.,  359. 

Jacob  W.,  20,  285;  collector  in  1853, 
302;  in  1854,  303;  in  1855,  304;  se- 
lectman and  assessor  in  1866.  818; 
in  1867.  319;  in  1868.  320;  in  1869, 
322. 

John  K..  20;  selectman  and  assessor 
in  1852,  300;  in  1854.  303. 

John  S.,  39,  40.  54,  55.  56.  96.  97.  104. 
106.  115,  119,  128.  137.  163.  188.  199, 
239. 

Mrs.  John  S.,  33. 

William,  264. 

William  F..  town  clerk  in  1852.  30O; 
in  1864.  303;  in  1855.  304. 

William  S..  151;  selectman  and  as- 
sessor in  1856.  305. 

Wm.  S..  20;  selectman  and  assessor 
in  1855.  304. 

Haskins,  R.  &  R.  &  Co.,  245. 
Hastings.  Seth.  10. 11.  12, 13. 
Hatch.  Amasa,  Jr.,  305. 
Hathaway.  Leonard.  109.  190,  852.  356, 
359. 

Hayden.  John  S..  83,  106. 
Mr..  184. 

Hayes,  Loring  D.,  296,  298. 
Mr.  John,  74,  75,  96,  119,  127. 136, 187. 
202.  240. 

Hayman.  Edw..  8. 

Herrick.  Nathan,  222. 

Herring,  Deacon,  34. 
Nathaniel,  34. 

Hersey.  Abner  R..  307. 

William  R..  305.  307. 

Higgins.  Amos.  225.  238. 

Hill,  Aaron.  99,  225,  239,  270;  selectman 

in  1848,  291. 
Edward.  245.  348. 
Edwin,  collector  in  1859,  310;  in  1862, 

314;  selectman  and  assessor  in  1863, 

315. 
Elmer,  199. 
Francis.  314.  316,  323. 
F.  W.,  305. 
John  B.,  Esq.,  238. 
Thomas  A.,  234. 

Hinsley,  Hon.  Martin,  168. 

History  of  Piscataquis  County,  213. 

Hobbie,  Mrs.  Octavia,  208. 


INDEX 


395 


Hodson,  Captain  Isaac.  156. 

Colonel  Isaac,  188. 

Isaac,  13,  156.  183. 

John  L..  284.  288,  298. 

Major  General,  263,  267. 

Major  Moses,  60. 

Moses,  15,  27,  37,  89,  52,  55,  169.  186. 

Oliver  P.,  877. 
Holbrook,  James,  57,  225. 

Walter,  202,  209.  211,  215. 219. 228. 225. 
289. 
Holland,  Park.  12. 
Holmes.  Ezekiel,  801,  802. 

O.  W..  quotation,  24. 
Holt,  Edward  B.,  appointed  to  prepare 
plans  for  new  bridere  in  1838,  254, 

Thomas  K.,  802.  804,  807.  814. 
Holt's  mUls.  18.  181.  276. 
Holyoke  &,  Page.  245. 
Hopkins.  Isaac.  119.  120. 137. 
Hopkinton.  New  Hampshire,  63. 
Hopland,  Isaac,  184. 
House  of  Representatives.  118.  121. 
Howard.  Joseph,  317.  818. 
Hubbard,  John.  296,  297.  SOL 

Mr.  B.  P..  857. 
Huckins,  Nathaniel.  260. 
Hulse.  W.  C.  358. 

HuntinflTton.  Enoch.  296;  selectman  in 
1886.  246;  in  1837.  248:  in  1838,  254; 
in  1840,  271.  262.  261.  284. 
Hunton.  J.  G..  227. 

Jonathan  G..  227. 

Mr.,  224. 
Hutchins,  Elder  Samuel.  861. 

Rev.  Leonard.  282.  358. 

William.  284. 
Hutchinson.  Ebenezer,  232. 

James,  137. 


Illsley,  Rev.  Horatio,  349. 

Indian  Old  Town,  186. 

Inman,  Rufus,  225,  239. 

Irish.  Thaddeus  P..  town  clerk  in  1857. 

308;  in  1858,  809. 
Isle  au  Haut,  154. 


Jackman.  Enoch.  75.  76,  119.  128.  137, 
179. 

James.  187,  161. 

Captain  John  L.,  28,  36. 119, 137,  161. 
208.240. 

Justus,  161. 
Jackson.  Andrew,  222,  281. 
"Jack  Spratt."  55. 
Jameson  Hill.  60, 158,  159. 
Jefferson.  Thomas,  216. 
Jeffersonian.  newspaper,  255. 


Jenningrs,  Horace,  42.  * 

Mark  C.  106.  130,  184. 

Stephen  D.,  106.  269;  selectman  and 
assessor  in  1845,  285;  in  1860,  311; 
moderator  in  1846,  287;  in  1852,  300; 
in  1853.  301;  candidate  for  repre- 
sentative to  Legislature.  286,  290, 
321;  candidate  for  State  Senator  in 
1856.  307;  in  1857,  309. 
Johnson,  John,  225. 

Joseph,  225. 

Levi,  239. 

Mrs.  Nathaniel,  208. 

Noah  W.,  selectman  and  assessor  in 
1856,  805;  in  1867,  308;  candidate 
for  representative  to  Legislature. 
310. 

N.  W..  208. 

Samuel.  109,  239. 
Jones,  John,  49. 

John  G.,  303,  312. 

Jonathan,  49. 

Story.  200. 

William.  97. 
Joseph  Garland's  bam.  79. 


Katahdin.  16. 

Kelsey.  Captain  Joseph.  196. 

Kenduskeasr.  5.  15.  18.  24, 27.  38,  64,  60, 
158,  178,  186. 
Stream  at  Holt's  mills.  264. 

Kennebec  district.  189. 
River,  18. 19.  58.  158. 
Kent,  Edward,  234;    Whi»  candidate 

for  Governor,  247,  248.  256.  260;  in 

1840,  272;  in  1841,  274. 

Kilby,  Rev.  Mr.,  889. 

Kimball,  Andrew,  96,  99,  120.  127,  190. 
Jedediah.  264. 
John  S.,  208.  256. 
Colonel  John  S.,  255,  259,  348. 
Lucretia.  96. 

Sarah  (Andrew's  daughter),  96. 
Stephen,  152,  208. 

KinfiT.  Hon.  William,  188,  194. 

"King  Gideon,"  45.  47. 

"King's  Mark."  148. 

Kingsbury,  Sanford,  288,  290. 

Kitridge.  Russell,  231,  233. 

Knight,  Aaron,  200. 

Agnes  Grant,  62.  95. 

David  E.,  31. 

John,  62,  77,  96,  119,  187. 

Joseph  F.,  808. 

Joseph  T.,  287.  296.  297,  300,  801. 

Samuel  W.,  selectman  and  assessor, 
219,  223.  226.  229.  248.  254;  collector, 
221,  225,  239,  261,  264,  273.  300;  can- 
didate for  State  Senator  in  1844, 
284. 

William  H.,  205,  228,  287. 

Zebulon,  225,  239.  354. 

Knowlton,  Hon.  Ebenezer,  286. 


396 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Ladd,  Captain  Daniel,  200,  206,  209.  211, 
216,  219,  221,  223,  225.  239.  284. 

G.  W.,  321. 

Isaac  F.,  239. 

Jeremiah.  200,  225.  289. 

John  C.  264. 

John  E..  225,  239. 

William.  239. 
Lancey,  William,  185. 
Lawrence  family,  190. 

Jonathan  C,  285,  304. 

Mr..  248. 
Lawrences,  111. 
Leverett,  Thomas,  13. 
Lee,  N.  H.,  5,  200. 

Legislature  of  Maine.  36.  195,  243;  pe- 
tition for  repairing  road.  249. 

of  Massachusetts.  5,  6,  119,  163,  164, 
168. 
Leighton,  Mr.,  65. 

Mrs.,  65. 
Leland,  Leonard,  225. 
Levant,  food  stored,  54,  55;  important 

road  through  Levant,  242. 
Lewis,  Elder  Lincoln,  351. 
Lewiston,  111. 
Libbee,  Silas,  119, 120, 137. 
Libbey,  Smith,  276. 
Lieutenant  Governor,  138,  153. 
Lincoln  artillery  company,  263. 

Abraham,  138. 

Enoch,  212,  215,  216,  217,  219,  220, 222. 

Gk>vernor.  217. 

Hon.  Levi,  53. 

Levi,  9,  10.  11,  12, 13,  19. 

Lionel,  106. 

Township,  110. 
Lincolntown,  19,  53.  57,  60.65,  68.  81,83. 

88.  91,  96.  99.  151. 
London.  13.  256. 
Longfellow,  quotation.  23. 
Lord.  Mr.,  339. 

Loring,  Rev.  Amasa,  34,  171,  213.  214, 
340. 

Loring's  History  of  Piscataquis  County, 

34. 
Lowell,  Mr.,  of  Foxcroft,  359. 
Lowells.  111. 

Lyford,  Fifield,  225.  239,  256,  264,  378. 
Hiram,  239. 


M 

Mace,  Mrs.,  quotation,  113. 
Madigan,  James  C,  317. 
Madison,  President,  138,  156. 
Maguire,  Mrs.  Ruel,  203. 

Maine  camp.  383. 
District  of,  164,  188,  242. 
Missionary  Society,  106,  345. 


Maine  State  college,  385. 

State  of,  17.  36.  63.  85. 88, 112, 114, 169, 
192, 196;  farmers  of  central  Maine. 
212.  226. 
Main  stream.  19,  233. 
Manchesters,  111. 
Mansfield,  Henry.  102. 

HoUis.  102,  240. 

Samuel.  102.  240. 

William.  225. 

Maple  Grove  cemetery.  74.  77. 131. 184. 
236,  237.  296. 

March,  Deacon  James,  118,  225.  240. 

Marrow,  Reuben,  240. 

Martin,  Mr.,  emigrated  from  London 
in  1839,  258. 

Mason,  J.  W.,  245. 

Massachusetts,  38;  early  settlers  from, 
110;  general  court,  112;  records, 
118,  169;  cattle  driven  to  Massachu- 
setts to  pay  debts,  241. 

May.  Elisha.  13. 
Hezekiah,  339. 

Mayo,  Benjamin.  152.  225.  239,  240. 
John  G.,  152. 

McCluer,  James,  137,  196. 
Mrs.  James,  97. 

McClure,  James,  57,  120,  127,  131. 
McComb,  Alexander,  379. 

Barton,  84. 

D.  B.,  61. 

John  H.,  379. 

John,  Jr.,  203. 

Robert,  130. 

Thomas,  158. 
McDougal,  D.  M.,  245. 
McGaw,  245. 

Mclntire.  land  agent,  262. 
McLane,  Edward,  8. 
McLaughlin,  Mr.,  262. 
McLure,  James,  191. 
Mendon,  10,  12. 
Meneely  &  Sons,  245. 

Merriam,  Artemas,  264;  moderator  in 
1854,  302;  in  1855,  304;  in  1856,  305; 
in  1858,  309;  in  1859,  310;  in  I860. 
311;  in  1861,  313;  in  1862.  314;  in 
1863,  315;  in  18G8,  320;  candidate 
for  representative  to  legislature, 
307. 

Mrs.  Charles  E.,  108,  196,  199,  203. 

Mrs.  Josiah,  245,  383. 

Merrill,  Henry,  69,  76,  179,  286. 

Major.  220. 

Nathan,  76,  190. 
Middlesex,  county  of,  11. 
Miller,  Mr.  William,  281. 
Millerism,  353. 
Minnesota,  192. 
Mintum,  Jonathan  G.,  224. 
Mississippi,  192. 

Mitchell  brook,  88. 
Family.  91,  94. 
Mordecai,  90,  98. 


INDEX 


397 


Mitchell,  Mrs.  William,  89,  90,  91.  92, 
93,  94,  95. 

William,  Garland's  first  school  mas- 
ter, 42.  87,  88,  89.  90,  91,  93.  94,  95. 

Wm.,  51. 
Moluncus,  264. 
Monson.  214,  242,  244. 
Moore,  Daniel,  209.  211.  224,  228,  240. 

David,  226. 
Moosehead  lake.  179.  242. 
Moose  pond,  19. 
Moruan,  Glenn,  77.  200.  202. 

John,  147. 

Simeon,  102.  119,  137. 

Simon,  190. 

Theophilu3  B.,  119. 
Morrill  Anson  P..  302,  308,  806. 

Lot  M..  308,  810,  311. 
Morris.  Captein.  154,  155,  158. 
Morse,  Freeman  H..  285. 
Moses,  Mr.,  39. 
Murdock  buildinsrs,  68. 
Russell.  225,  239.  248.  moderator  in 
1838.  254:  in  1839.  2f0;  in  1840.  271; 
mentioned.  284;  moderator  in  1845. 
285;  in  1857,  308;  selectman  and  as- 
sessor in  1860,  311;  in  1861.  313;  in 
1862.  814. 
Place.  74. 
Murphy.  James  J.,  878. 
Murray.  Alexander.  96. 
Arnold,  29.  69.  71,  72. 
Betsy,  95. 
Elizabeth.  96. 
Thomas  M..  233. 
William  A..  233. 
Muscon^rus  patent,  13. 
River,  14. 


N 


Nason,  Samuel  V.,  352. 

National    House  of   Representatives, 

118. 
Naval  committee,  113. 
Nelson.  Seth.  33. 
Newburgr.  14.  16. 
Newburyport,  68. 
New  Charleston,  46,  53,  80,  81. 
New  Durham,  N.  H.,  173. 
Newell,  Austin,  244.  245. 
New  England  community,  22,  123;  cold 

summer  of,  170, 171,  173. 
New  Gloucester,  Me.,  27.  28.  29.  52,  88, 

140. 
New  Hampshire.  30.  63, 110,  196. 
New  Ohio  (Corinth),  25.  42.  55,  60.  80, 

99. 
Newport,  185. 
New  York,  169,  170,  245. 
Norcross,  E.  L..  248. 

ElUah.  208. 
Northeast  county  road.  296. 


North  St.  Albans,  185. 

Nottingham,  N.  H.,  25,  100.  109,  196, 

241. 
Nye,  Elisha.  225. 

o 

Oak,  Benjamin  H.,  109,  231.  232,  233. 
238.  244;  treasurer  in  1836,  246;  in 
1837.  248. 

Edson  L..  member  superintending 
.school  committee  in  1847.  288;  in 
1848.  291;  in  1863.  315. 

E.  L.,  town  agent  in  1861.  313;  in 
1862.  314. 

Lebbeus.  256. 

Lorenzo.  208.  275;  town  clerk  in  1843, 
277;  in  1844.  283;  in  1845,  286;  in 
1846,  287;  in  1847,  288;  in  1851,  300; 
in  1853,  301;  treasurer  in  1848,  291; 
in  1854, 303;  in  1855.  304;  collector  in 
1868,  321:  in  1869,  322;  selectman 
and  assessor  in  1856.  305;  in  1857, 
308;  in  1858.  309:  in  1859.  310;  in 
1860.  311;  in  1865,  817;  town  agent 
in  1863.  315. 

L.,  store.  132. 

Hon.  Lyndon.  385. 

Lyndon,  superintending  school  com- 
mittee in  1838,  254;  in  1839.  260;  in 
1840.  271;  in  1864.  316;  in  1865.  317; 
in  1866.  319;  in  1867.  319;  candidate 
for  representative  to  legislature, 
286;  in  1854.  304;  in  1864.  317;  in 
1868.  321;  instructor  in  first  high 
school,  293:  moderator  in  1849.  295; 
mentioned.  296;  moderator  in  1851. 
299;  candidate  for  State  senator, 
305,  307:  supervisor  of  schools.  308, 
309.  310.  311. 

Nathaniel.  207. 
Ohio,  28.  112, 191. 
"Ohio  fever,"  182. 
"Old  Abe."  265. 
Old  Hundred,  65. 
Old  Town,  186. 
Oliver,  John  S.,  315.  316.  317. 
Orland.  263. 
Osgood.  Calvin.  184. 

Calvin  R..  379. 

C.  F..  1%,  199. 

Fred.  109. 

John  W..  314,  316. 

Richmond,  256. 
Otis,  George  W.,  selectman  and  asses- 
sor in  1861,  313;  in  1868. 320;  in  1869. 
322,  356. 

H.  G.,  president  of  senate,  122.  123. 

Joel  W..  61.  319;  place.  74. 


Pacific  coast.  94. 
Packard.  Shepherd.  240. 

Thomas  B..  31. 
Page.  Benjamin.  239. 

Ezekiel,  28,  246.  256,  264.  271. 

Elder  John.  351. 

John,  238. 


dd8 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,     MAINE 


Paine.  Henry  M..  168. 
Palermo.  Me.,  29. 
Palmer,  I.  A.,  106. 

Jonathan,  157. 

Richard,  185. 

William,  128. 

William,  of  Exeter,  288. 
Palmyra,  185. 
Paris,  Albion  K..  194. 

Maine.  202. 
Parker.  Dr.  James.  110.  133,  184,  137, 
162,  225,  239. 

Rev.  Wooster,  349. 
Parkman,  A.  F.,  319. 

Orison,  281. 
Parks.  Gorham.  232,  234,  248. 
Parris,  Albion  K..  197,  201.  207,  210, 

212,  303. 
Parsons,  Solomon,  222. 
Patten,  D,  F.,  106,  131,  190. 

George  F.,  307. 

John  S.,  314. 
Patterson,  Alfred,  131. 
Paul,  S.  M.,  75. 
Peabody,  Dr.,  105, 110. 
Pearson,  O.,  307. 
Pease,  Albana,  284. 
Pennell,  Rev.  Lewis,  345. 
Penobscot  bay,  14,  154.  167. 

County  of,  5,  106.  168.  205,  234,  249. 

Masonic  lodgre,  205,  228. 

River,  18,  38,  58,  157,  158. 

Valley,  154, 183. 

Pennsylvania,  170. 
Peter  the  hunter,  47. 
Peters,  John,  319,  321. 
Philips,  Hon.  William,  138. 
Phillips,  Ebenezer  S.,  227. 

Samuel,  8. 

William,  153. 
Pierce.  David.  286.  288. 

Edward  H.,  291,  296,  297.  300,  301. 

Waldo  T.,  234. 
Pilgrims,  123. 
Pillsbury,  Albert,  302, 

Eben  F.,  319,  320,  321. 

James.  281. 

Peter,  270. 
Piscataquis,  county  of,  131. 178.  237. 

Region,  101. 

Valley,  16. 
Pittsfield,  185. 

Plantation  number  three,  195. 
Pleasant  pond.  18.  74.  152,  233. 
Plummer,  Charles,  208. 
Pomroy,  Rev.  S.  L.,  343. 
Portland,  158,  174,  188,  194. 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  196. 
Powers,  James.  203.  225.  238. 
Pownal,  Governor,  14. 

Fort,  14. 
Pratt,  Deacon.  342. 

Dr.  John  F.,  118. 


Pratt,  Edward,  119, 120. 

John,  119,  120. 

Dr.  Joseph,  85,  86, 109. 
Preble  brook,  132. 
Preble,  Edwin,  82,  101,  228. 

Henry  C,  208,  311,  313,  314,  315,  319. 

Wins,  208. 

Prescott.  Joseph,  200,  202,  220.  221,  223, 
225,  229.  281, 240;  moderator  in  1886, 
246,  248;  in  1841,  273;  in  1842,  275;  in 
1843,  277;  in  1844,  288;  in  1847,  288, 
Simon,  99;  place,  60,  99. 

Presidential  campaign,  211. 

Pressey,  Benjamin,  200,  208,  225. 

Province  of  Maine,  77, 110,  111,  168,  167. 
182,  188,  242. 

Puritan,  123. 


Quimby,  Enos,  29, 192. 
Jacob,  225.  288. 
Jacob,  Jr.,  375. 
Mrs.,  192. 


R 

Ramsdell,  Henry,  378. 

John  H.,  208. 
Read,  John,  8. 

Reed,  Rev.  Appleton  W.,  356. 
Isaac.  303,  305. 
J.  B.,  264. 

Hon.  Thomas  B.,  118. 
Reform  Club,  329. 
Revolutionary  war,  5, 128,  216. 
Reynolds,  Charles,  208,  228,  226,  227, 
229,  231,  232,  236,  239;  town  clerk  in 
1887,  248;  appointed  agent  by  town, 
251;   selectman  in  1838,  254;  town 
clerk  and  selectman   in  1839,  260; 
town  clerk  in  1840,  271;  in  1841,  278; 
representative  to  legislature,  274; 
town  clerk  in    1847,  291;  in    1849, 
295;  in  1850,  297. 
Rice,  Charles,  168. 
John  H.,  312,  315,  317. 
Richard  H.,  234. 
S.  M..  276. 
Richardson,  Clark,  101, 

Lyman  E.,  376. 
Ricker,  George  W.,  245. 
Rideout,  Deacon  L,  M.,  202. 
James  L..  28,  81,  78,  96,  181,  200,  208, 

208,  220. 
Luther,  28,  248,  256.  264,  276.  277;  se- 
lectman in  1844.  283;  in  1845.  285; 
286;    in"  1846. 'T  287;  in.  1847.  288;! in 
1849.  295;  town  clerk  in  1851,  800; 
301;  selectman  in  1859,  310;  repre- 
sentative to  legislature,  312;  mod- 
erator in  1864,  816;  in  1865,  817; in 
1866,  318;  in  1867,  319;  in  1869,  822. 
Miss  Lizzie,  208. 
Place,  181. : 
Ripley,  Me.,  49,  58,  65,  88,  90, 185,  214. 


INDEX 


399 


Bobbins,  James.  225. 
Roberts,  Amos  M..  307. 
Robinson,  Edward.  284. 

Edwin.  276.  278. 

Elder,  198. 
Rollins,  Enoch,  225,  289. 

Ernest,  82. 

WUliam.  225.  239. 
RufiTGrles,  Deacon.  185. 
Runnals,  John  S..  256.  264. 
Russell  mountain,  16. 
Rutland.  Mass..  27,  95.  96. 104. 


Sabbath,  The.  87.  94,  96. 
Salisbury.  Mass..  76. 

New  Hampshire,  29.  30.  52.  82.  200. 
Sanborn.  Abner.  19.  152,  168,  166,  180, 
188. 

Abraham,  284.  307. 

Mr.,  in  Charleston,  26. 
Sanbomton,  N.  H.,  88. 
Sanford.  John  I.  D.,  275,  868. 
Sansrer,  Calvin.  11.  241. 

Mr..  108.  185. 

Samuel.  11. 

Samuel.  Jr..  11. 
Sanserville.  180.  181, 179.  242. 
Sargent,  David.  225. 

Edward.  28.  57. 

JoMph.  28.  202.  208,  220,  226,  240. 

Mrs.  Joseph.  209. 

Samuel  P.,  220. 

William.  28.  73.  96.  120.  128,  187,  208, 
208,225. 

Mrs.  William,  97. 
Saunders,  John.  137. 

Joseph,  29,  83.  107.  127, 187. 

Moses,  137. 

Oliver.  107, 108.  187. 

Thomas  B..  226. 
Sawtelle,  Asa  H.,  106. 
Sawyer,  Father,  245,  841. 

Homestead.  106. 

Rev.  John,  106.  110.  131. 184, 187, 161, 
153. 162.  190.  202,  243.  389. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  11. 
Scott,  General,  268. 
Sebasticook  stream.  19. 
Sebec.  Me..  100,  117. 
Secretary's  office,  122. 
Senate,  118.  121,  122,  194. 
Separationists.  164. 
Severance  openiner,  42,  43. 
Sewall.  Rev.  Jotham,  846. 

Rev.  Samuel,  87.  338. 

Rev.  W.  S.,  349. 
Seward  farm.  101. 
Seward.  Robert,  240, 

Deacon  Robert.  83,  100, 101.  364. 

Mrs.  Robert,  108. 
Shaw,  T.  J.,  309,  810. 
Sheldon.  Rev.  N.  W.,  343. 


Shepherd,  David.  278. 
Sherburne,  11. 
Shores,  Mr.,  15. 
Silver,  Daniel,  300,  360. 

Joshua,  240. 

Joshus.  83. 

Sampson,  58,  59,  64,  70,  82,  105,  106. 
120.  137. 
Sixth  ransre.  119. 121, 195. 
Skillin.  David.  271.  273,  274,  275. 

Josiah.  256. 

Leonard.  256,  305. 

Mrs.  Leonard,  31. 

Samuel.  248,  256;  selectman  in  1838, 
264,  256;  in  1839,  260;  in  1857,  308; 
in  1858.  309.  310;  in  1861,  313;  in 
1862.  814. 

Thomas  J..  378. 

William  E..  318. 
Skinner.  Albert,  256.  264. 

Dr..  110. 

Elijah.  219. 

Elisha.  315.  316. 

Mason.  225.  239. 

Thompson  Joseph.  9.  11.  12. 18. 
Skowhegran,  184.  185. 
Small.  Ebenezer  and  wife.  48. 

E.  H..  814. 
Smart,  Ephraim  K.,  812. 

Smith.  Andrew.  225. 

Caroline.  94. 

Deacon  Stephen,  94,  246,  846. 

Franklin.  323. 

Gardiner.  264. 

Hannah.  94. 

Henrietta.  94.  95. 

John  P..  256.  264.  283.  285. 

Manasseh  H.,  808,  310.  311. 

Matilda.  94.  95. 

Moses.  29.  57.  78. 

Mrs.  N.  P..  51.  90.  91.  94,  96. 

Rev.  Professor,  of  Banffor  Seminary. 
343. 

S..  246. 

Samuel  E..  224,  227.  229. 281. 

Seth.  225. 

Thomas.  185. 
Snell.  Charles.  203. 

Cyrus.  203. 
Snow,  old  hunter,  55. 

Eleazer  W..  248. 
Somerset,  county  of,  216,  234. 

Soule.  Asa.  152.  239. 
Asa  W..  225. 
David.  203,  225,  289.  241. 
Gains.  225. 

Gideon.  203,  225,  227,  239. 
John,  203.  225,  239. 
Lewis,  225.  239. 
Ruf  us,  203.  225. 
Solomon.  240. 
William.  203,  225,  238. 

Sprasrue,  Pelee.  234. 
Sprinsrall,  Dr.  Joseph.  186. 
S.  S.  Clark  &  Co.  (firm),  288. 
Staples.  Jacob.  239. 
State  land  agent.  214. 
Stetson.  159. 


400 


HISTORY    OF    GARLAND,    MAINE 


Stetson,  Amasa,  320. 

Charles.  292,  297. 

Isaiah,  320. 

Mr.,  185. 
Stevens,  John,  119.  137. 

John  B.,  239. 

Mr.,  39.  120. 
Stewart,  Eliab,  225,  239. 
Stillingrs,  Isaiah,  225,  239. 
Stone.  ElJery,  190, 

James  M..  24.  117,  196. 

William,  191. 
Story,  Joseph,  speaker  of  house,  121, 

123. 
Straw,  Alfred  R.,  379. 

A.  W.,  250. 

Ezekiel.  106,  120,  127.  137,  153.  180, 
186,  193,  197,  201,  206,  226,  239.  242, 
246,  248,  252. 

Family,  251. 

Giles,  264.  378. 

James  (father  of  A.  W.),  250. 

James  M.  (brother  of  A.  W.),  250. 

Jesse,  240. 

Strong.  Caleb,  138.  163. 

Governor.  167. 
Strout,  Joseph,  225,  239.  351. 
Strickland,  Hastings,  262,  297,  301. 
Subscribers  to  stock  of  new  church. 
347. 

For  filling  quota  assigned  to  Gar- 
land, 384. 
Suffolk,  county  of,  11. 
Swift,  Rev.  Aurelius.  345. 


Number  three,  118,  119,  121. 

Number  two,  119,  121. 
Tracy,  Rev.  A.  P..  357. 
Trafton,  Mark,  185. 
Treadwell,  John.  100. 

Joseph,  35,  52,  55,  99. 

Joseph  (grandson  of  Joseph  Tread- 
well),  100,  140. 

Joseph  C,  25,  35.  122.  125,  127.  128, 
137,  140. 

Trefethen,  John,  83,  135,  137,  180,  195. 
239. 

Tref  etheren,  John,  119. 
Tripp,  Hon.  Bartlett,  113. 
True,  Abraham.  196,  199.  225.  231.  232. 
239. 

Mrs.  Abraham.  203. 
Benjamin.  236. 

Benjamin,  Esq.,  380. 

Family,  1%. 

Joseph,  place,  24,  117,   196,  225,  239. 
255.  273. 

Joseph.  Jr..  196,  224.  239,  254,  260. 
Trundy,  B.  L.,  200,  203. 
Tucker,  John,  90. 
Turner,  Rev.  Abel,  363. 
Tuttle,  Mr.,  185. 
Twombly,  Deacon  Moses,  353. 

John  D„  378. 
Tyler,  Aunt  Susan,  35. 

Captain,  158. 

John,  28,  35,  52,  54,  99,  140. 

Mrs.  John,  54. 

Place,  28. 

Sullivan,  137. 

Thomas  S.,  27.  82.  119.  127,  137.  156, 
199,  240, 


Talbot,  George  F„  296,  297. 

Tarbox,  John,  of  Garland,  263.  270. 

Taylor,  Abner,  250. 
Franklin,  treasurer  in  1856,  305;  in 
1857.  308;  in  1859.  310;  in  1860,  311; 
in  1861,  313;  in  1862,  314;  in  1863, 
315;  in  1864,  316;  in  1865,  317;  in 
1866,  318;  in  1867,  319;  in  1868,  320; 
in  1869,  322. 
Warner,  239. 

Tenney,  John  S..  255. 

Tewksbury,  John,  281. 

Thatcher,  George  A.,  245. 

Thayer.  Rev.  P.  B.,  95.  349.  356,  359. 

The  Garland  Union  Temperance  Soci- 
ety, 328. 

"The  Lake,"  61,  153. 

Thomas  hill,  269. 

Thomdike,  Herbert,  225,  239. 

Tibbetts,  Allen  C,  302. 

Titcomb,  Leonard  H.,  379. 

Todd,  John,  185. 

Towle,  Deacon  Ebenezer,  351. 

Town  clerk,  125. 

Townsend  harbor,  59. 

Township  number  four,  119,  12L 


u 

Union,  189. 

United  States,  113,  123,  169. 

Sanitary  Commission,  383. 

President  of,  113. 

Senate  of,  113. 

Supreme  court  of,  113. 
Universalists,  239. 


Van  Buren,  Martin,  247,  273. 
Vanderbilt,  72. 

Veazie,   General,   citizen    of   Bangor. 

259. 
Vermont,  169. 
Vickery,  Joseph,  291. 
Vinton,  Rev.  John  A.,  346. 
Vose,  Mr.,  185. 

w 

Wakefield,  Hon.  A.  G.,  277. 
Waldo,  family  of  that  name.  14. 


INDEX 


401 


Gen.  Samuel,  14. 15. 

Patent,  7,  9,  10, 13.  37.  93. 118, 121. 
Walker,  Asa.  284. 

Brothers,  99. 

John,  208,  288. 

Deacon  Joseph,  351. 

WaahinfiTton,  L.  P.,  311. 
Wallace.  GUbert.  225. 
Ware,  N.  H..  58.  74.  103. 
War  of  1812.  156, 161. 163.  182,  191,  192, 
234. 

of  the  Rebellion.  84,  138. 
Warren.  Samuel.  206,  209,  225. 

WUliam,  225. 
Washburn.  Edward,  36,  98. 

Israel.  292.  297,  301.  804,  314. 

Israel.  Jr..  807.  310,  812. 
Washinstonian  Society,  328. 
Waterhouse,  Isaiah,  301. 
Webster,  Colonel,  of  Orono,  262. 

Daniel,  114. 
Wells.  Nathaniel,  8. 

Samuel,  305.  306. 
West  C!orinth,  60.  185. 
West  Garland.  18,  152.  190.  238.  248. 
Weat,  The,  112,  114, 182. 
Weeton,  G.  M.,  819. 

Samuel.  7.  9,  10,  16. 

Wheeler,  Betaey  Murray,  68,  96.  96. 
Calvin  S..  208,  266. 
Isaac,  Esq.,  15.  19.  26,  89.  48.  54.  57. 

63.  95.  104.  108.  120.   124.   188.   137. 

139.  151.  153.  156.  162.  166.  177,  180, 

186,  193,  197,  201,  206.  208,  215,  219, 

224.239. 
Isaac.  Jr..  264. 
Beuben.  63. 105. 


Wheeler,  Squire,  124. 
White,  Rev.  Calvin,  346. 

Rev.  Henry.  349. 
Whitman,  Ezekiel,  201,  216,  219. 
Whitney,  John,  323. 

Samuel.  222. 
Whittier  (quotation),  141. 
Wiley,  James  S.,  287,  290,  310. 
Wilkins.  Bray,  239. 

Daniel,  15.  31,  46, 197,  201. 

Isaac  E.,  215.  219,  226,  342. 

Rev.  Isaac,  166.  226. 

John,  13,  168,  227. 

Place.  31. 
Williams  college.  5.  6.  7,  9,  10.  11,  12, 
198,343. 

Ruel,  194. 
Williamson.  Mr..  19.  163,  164. 192. 

W.  D..  246. 

Williamstown.  Mass.,  5,  9. 

Wilson.  Hon.  John.  139,  168. 
Obed.205. 

Winthrop.  Me..  105. 

Wolcott.  Thomas,  12. 

Wood.  F.  D.,  126. 199. 

Woodard.  Eleazer.  120. 

Oliver,  119, 120. 
Woodman,  Samuel  L.,  288.  298. 
Woodward.  O..  128, 137. 

Worcester.  10. 
County  of,  10. 

Wyman,  George  W..  83. 
John.  186. 
WilUam.  88. 


LOAN  DEPT. 


LD  21A-50m-3,'62 
(07097810)4(615 


M381503    P2S 

GsOs 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


